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SALLY 

W I S T E R'S 

JOURNAL 





The British Grenadier." 
See page 127. 



SALLY 

WISTER'S 
JOURNAL 



A True Narrative 

BEING A QUAKER MAIDEN'S ACCOUNT 
OF HER EXPERIENCES WITH OFFICERS 
OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY, 1777-1778 



EDITED BY 

ALBERT COOK MYERS 




WITH REPRODUCTIONS OF PORTRAITS, 
MANUSCRIPTS, RELICS AND VIEWS 



FERRIS & LEACH • PUBLISHERS 

Nos. 29-31 North Seventh Street, Philadelphia 



V. 



A/'^ 



^'- 



THE LIB«ARV OF 

CONeRCSS, 
T«(D Copies Reohved 

DEC. n 1902 



DLAM Ct XX& No. 
OPPY B. 



Copyright, 1902, by Ferris & Leach. 




Deborah Logan 
" Debby Norris " 




'nr\ 



INTRODUCTION 



ON the 25th day of September, 1777, just two 
weeks after the Battle of the Brandywine, 
the British Army entered Germantown. 
On the same day, and but a few miles distant from 
the place, Sally Wister, a bright and charming 
Quaker girl, sixteen years of age, began to '* keep a 
sort of journal ' ' of her observations and experiences. 
She was a daughter of Daniel Wister, a prosperous 
merchant of Philadelphia, and was at this time living 
with her family in the retired farm house of the widow 
Hannah Foulke, on the Wissahickon, among the hills 
of Gwynedd, or North Wales, some fifteen miles away 
from the storm and stress of those anxious and exciting 
days in the war-blighted city. Here she stayed until 
the following July, when, the British having left Phila- 
delphia, she, with the other members of the family, 
returned to their home in the city. During all this 
time the Journal was kept up, and occasional entries 



Journal of 



made, growing frequent and detailed as interesting 
events crowded one upon another, or brief and infre- 
quent when '*a dull round of the same thing over 
again" made her declare, '* I shall hang up my pen 
until something offers worth relating." 

The Journal is addressed by its author to an intimate 
school friend, Deborah Norris, a descendant of notable 
colonial ancestry, and destined to become notable 
herself in after years. Deborah Norris lived with her 
widowed mother in the Norris mansion adjoining the 
State House in Philadelphia, and she was fully as 
intelligent and vivacious as our journalist. The young 
friends apparently had kept up a frequent correspond- 
ence until the British occupation of the city ; then 
communication being practically broken off, Sally's 
confidences to Deborah took the form of a journal. 
In the opening lines she says : 

*' Tho' I have not the least shadow of an oppor- 
*' tunity to send a letter, if I do write, I will keep 
** a sort o^ journal of the time that may expire before 
** I see thee : the perusal of it may some time hence 
**give pleasure in a solitary hour 

Curiously enough, it seems that this interesting 
chronicle did not reach the eye for which it was 
intended until long years after the writer's death ; then 



duction] Sally Wister 7 

it was loaned by Mr. Charles J. Wister, her brother, 
to her old friend, who had then become Mrs. George 
Logan, the elegant and cultured mistress of Stenton. 
In returning the manuscript to Mr. Wister, Mrs. 
Logan wrote : 

** D. Logan presents her best respects to her ffriend 
** C. J. Wister, and feels herself at a loss for adequate 
*« expressions when she would return him thanks for 
**the trouble he has taken to oblige her, but which she 
«* gratefully acknowledges. 

**D: L: returns the manuscript which he kindly 
*<lent her some time ago, and which has, together' 
** with the memory of the beloved writer, brought 
** vividly to her mind days long since past; and if, 
«* (as she has since thought might have been the case) 
<« he meant to have given her her own Letter which 
** he then put into her hands, she would be much 
•'obliged to him to destroy it. . . . 

^^ Stenton, May 24th, [i8]30."i 

The Journal is undoubtedly one of the most inter- 
esting and valuable that has come down to us. Its 



1 Original letter in collection of Mr. Charles J. Wister, Jr., of 
Germantown. Mrs. Logan possibly first learned of the Journal 
from her friend and fellow-worker in history, John F. Watson, 
either personally or from his printed work, *' The Annals of 
Philadelphia," published in 1830, which contains brief extracts 
from the Journal. 



8 Journal of [imro- 

faithful and clever descriptions of persons and events, 
its quaint moralizings, its naive confessions of likes and 
dislikes, its roguishness and genial good humor, and 
withal its dramatic spirit make it an extremely inter- 
esting human document. It conveys a pleasing 
impression of the life of a young girl and lends a 
vividness and a reality to the characters and incidents 
of the time that more formal records fail to supply. 
It thus assumes a positive value as a historical picture 
of social conditions in the midst of some of the most 
important scenes of the Revolutionary struggle. 

In the nine months which the Journal covers 
occurred the British capture of Philadelphia, the Battle 
of Germantown, the surrender of Burgoyne, the 
skirmishes before Washington's intrenchments at White- 
marsh, the winter encampment at Valley Forge, the 
Conway Cabal against Washington, the acknowledg- 
ment of American Independence by France, and the 
Mischianza and the other gaieties of the British in 
Philadelphia. ** But a little distance away from the 
hills of Gwynedd," says Mr. Howard M. Jenkins, 
the historian of Gwynedd, *'the greatest actors in the 
Revolutionary drama were playing their parts, — 
•Washington, Greene, Lafayette, Wayne, Steuben, 
Kalb, and all the distinguished list." 



duction] Sally Wister 9 

To the Foulke mansion come General Smallwood, 
commander of the Maryland troops. Colonel Wood, 

of Virginia, Major Ogden, of New Jersey three 

future governors of their respective States — and many 
other important figures of this crucial period in the 
Nation's history. Generals, colonels, majors, captains, 
resplendent in red and buff and blue, and glittering in 
sashes, swords and epaulets, pass and repass before the 
unaccustomed and dazzled eyes of the Quaker maiden, 
and are quaintly portrayed in her pages. 



Sally Wister was born July 20, 1761, in an old 
house belonging to her grandfather Wister, at what is 
now 325 Market Street, Philadelphia. She had an 
interesting and distinguished ancestry. Her father was 
of pure German, and her mother of pure Welsh 
descent. 

Her grandfather John Wister (1708- 1789) was a 
Palatine, a native of the village of Hilsbach in Baden, 
seventeen miles southeast of Heidelberg. He was a 
son of Hans Caspar Wiister (i67i-i726),of Hils- 
bach, Jdgcr in the service of the Elector Palatine ; ^ 



1 " Herr Hans Caspar Wiister, Churpfalzischer Tager zu 
Hillsbach." 



lo Journal of [intro- 

In 1727, shortly after the death of his father, John 
Wister, then a youth of nineteen, set out for Pennsyl- 
vania to join his brother Caspar, who had emigrated 
ten years previously. After a voyage of four months 
he arrived at Philadelphia in September of that year. 

He entered upon the business of a wine merchant, 
and in the course of a few years amassed a considerable 
fortune, a large part of which he invested in real estate. 
In 173 I he purchased the property on what is now 
Market Street, where he made his home for many 
years ; and it was here that his granddaughter Sally 
was born. 

As years went by he purchased large tracts of land 
in Germantown, and in 1744, on one of these, 
bordering on Main Street, he erected a comfortable 
and spacious mansion, which he used as a summer 
home. Ample grounds extended to the east of the 
house in a large tract of field and woodland, a portion 
of which, still owned by the Wister family, has been 
known for more than a centurv as Wister' s Woods. 
The old mansion, which is located on Germantown 
Avenue near (^ueen Lane, has descended to a great- 
grandson, its present occupant, Charles J. Wister, 
Esquire, and is one of the cherished landmarks of 
Germantown. 



auction] Sally Wister n 

John Wister ^ married, as his second wife, Anna 
Catharine Rubenkam (1709- 1770), a native of the 
city of Wanfried in Hesse - Cassel, Germany, 
daughter of John Philip Rubenkam, a clergyman of 
that city. By her he had one son, Daniel Wister 
( 1738-9 — 1805), who was married by Friends' 
ceremony. May 5, 1760, to Lowry Jones, of 
Philadelphia. 

Lowry Jones was descended from the Welsh planters 
of Merion and Gwynedd, in means, education, and 
character among the very best of the early settlers of 
Pennsylvania. Her father was Owen Jones ( i 7 i i — 
1793), of Lower Merion and Philadelphia, at one 
time Provincial Treasurer of Pennsylvania. Owen 
Jones was a son of Jonathan Jones (1680— 1770), 
a native of Bala, in Merionethshire, Wales, and a 
grandson of Dr. Edward Jones (c. 1645 — 1737), of 
Bala, Merionethshire, who was the leader of the band 
of Welsh settlers who came over In 1682 to settle in 
the Welsh Barony. The wife of Dr. Edward Jones 
was Mary, daughter of Dr. Thomas Wynn (c. 1630 — 



^John Wister's third wife was Anna Thoman (1720- 1778), 
a nun from the Ephrata Cloisters, in Lancaster County. She was 
a native of Bubendorf, Switzerland, and came to Pennsylvania in 
1736 with her father, Durst Thoman, and his family. 



12 Journal oi [imro- 

1692), of Caerwys, Flintshire, Wales, an early 
Quaker pamphleteer, and a passenger on the Welcome 
with William Penn in 1682. 

Lowry Jones's grandmother, Gainor, wife of 
Jonathan Jones, was a daughter of Robert Owen 
(c. 1657 -1697), of Fron Goch, Merionethshire, an 
emigrant to Pennsylvania in 1690, and a descendant 
of a twelfth century chieftain, Rhirid Flaidd, Lord of 
Penllyn, and of Edward I. of England. Robert 
Owen's wife, Rebecca Humphrey, was herself a 
descendant of Edward III. of England. 

The mother of Lowry Jones, Susanna ( 1 7 1 9 - 
I 801), wife of Owen Jones, was a daughter of Hugh 
Evans (1682 -1772), by his wife Lowry Williams 
(1680- 1762), and a granddaughter of Rees John 
Williams, an emigrant from Merionethshire in 1684. 
The wife of Rees John Williams was Hannah Price 
(1656-1741), daughter of Richard ap Griffith ap 
Rhys, a descendant of Owen Glendower Tudor, and 
of Edward L, King of England.^ Hugh Evans was 
a son of Thomas Evans ( 1 6 5 i - i 7 3 8 ) , of Gwynedd, 
in Pennsylvania, an emigrant from Wales in 1698, 
by his wife Ann, and a grandson of Evan ap Evan, 

1 Thomas Allen Glenn, *' Merion in the Welsh Tract." 



auction] Sally Wister 13 

who was a descendant of Owen, Prince of Gwynedd, 
and of Bleddyn, Prince of Wales. ^ 

Sally Wister was thus a type of the new composite 
race that had sprung up in Pennsylvania. In her veins 
was mingled the best blood of two great peoples, and 
doubtless it was to this blending of Teutonic warmth 
and earnestness with Cymric sensibility to poesy 
and romance that we owe much of the charm and 
sprightliness of her Journal. 



Of Sally's school days little information has been 
obtained, but from what can be learned she was 
sent to the school for girls kept by the eminent Quaker 
philanthropist, Anthony Benezet. This institution, 
which was estabhshed in 1755, is said to have had a 
high moral and literary tone and was patronized by the 
best classes of citizens.^ Here doubtless Sally was 
taught not only the elementary branches but received 
some instruction in the higher classic and literary 
studies ; at least the Journal would indicate that she 
had some knowledge of Latin and French. The style 

^ Howard M. Jenkins, "Historical Collections of Gwynedd." 
^ James P. Wickersham, " History of Education in Penn- 
sylvania," 216. 



14 Journal of [imro 

of the journal and the allusions in it likewise show 
that very early she had formed habits of reading, and 
was familiar with the literature of the time. She was 
fond of verse, and Pope, if we may judge by her 
frequent use of quotations from his writings, was her 
favorite poet. She also was familiar with at least some 
of the fiction of the age, and expresses her delight on 
receiving a ** charming collection" of books, which 
included The Lady's Magazine, the famous but rather 
racy novel, Fielding's ** Joseph Andrews," and 
Brooke's ** Juliet Grenville." 

Probably, too, it was at school, as was the custom 
of the time, that she learned the "needle wisdom" 
and the sampler stitching upon which the gallant Cap- 
tain Dandridge compliments her. 

To the Benezet School also Deborah Norris was 
sent ^ and it was here that the friendship of the two 
girls began." A bunch of school-girls' letters 
addressed to Sally give us interesting glimpses of the 
life of the girls of that day and shows that she had a 
number of warm friends. Among the most intimate 

1 Mrs. Wister, " Worthy Women of Our First Century," 282. 

2 In a memorandum made January 4, 1780, in the back part of 
her manuscript Journal Sally says that this friendship " commenced 
at school." 




Mrs. William Rawle 
'• Sally Burge " 



auction] Sally Wister 15 

of these were Deborah Norris, Polly Fishbourne, Sally 
Jones, Anna Rawle, Peggy Rawle, and Sally Burge, 
who represented some of the best Quaker families of 
the city, and who in later years were notable figures 
in Philadelphia society. These young girls, then from 
fourteen to sixteen years of age, formed a little 
** Social circle," which was very exclusive. To this 
select society some of their boy friends were admitted 
for a time; but in 1776, apparently, the boys had 
fallen from grace. At least that is the natural inference 
drawn from a letter of one of Sally's correspondents^ 
written in September of* this year, while the ** merry 
companions ' * were separated and still living in their 
summer homes. 

** I shall be glad,'* writes the young girl, '* when 
'*we get together again, us Girls, I mean, for as to 
** the boys I fancy we must Give them up. 
** Willingly, I shall ; nor have I the most distant 
** desire of being with them again. I think we Pass 
**our time more agreeably without than with them." 

This fall from favor, however, if such it were, was 
only temporary, for after the departure of the British 
and the return of the exiled families we find the young 
men restored to their former standing, and the voung 
ladies not averse to receiving other ** agreeable mem- 



1 6 Journal of [imro- 

bers " to their circle. One of Sally's friends writes : 
** But the Doctor, the gay, the alert Doctor, what a 
pity he does not try to get admitted into the Social 
circle. He would be an agreeable member, I think." 



In personal appearance Sally was tall ^ and well- 
formed. Her silhouette shows that she had full, clear- 
cut features ; and a reference " in the Journal leads us 
to believe that she was a blonde. 

In spite of her Quaker training she takes not a little 
worldly pride in her dress and appearance. We are 
fully informed of her various costumes and we thus 
gain a very valuable picture of the dress of a young 
girl at that day. When she hears that officers are 
coming to the house she and her young friends put 
their '* dress and lips" ** in order for conquest." 
The next day she wore her *' chintz and look'd 
smarter than night before." She is much mortified to 
have Captain Dandridge find her wearing her greenish 
** skirt and dark short gown. Provoking." 

By the latter part of 1777 she was evidently feeling 

^ See Deborah Norris's letters in Appendix, pages 197 and 195. 
2 Page 182. 



auction] Sally Wister 17 

quite grown up and had adopted a more formal dress 
than the girlish one she had been wearing. *' I 
dressed myself," she writes, *' [in my] silk and cotton 
gown. It is made without an apron. I feel quite 
awkwardish, and prefer the girlish dress." At another 
time she wears a ** light chintz, which is made grown- 
fashion, kenting handkerchief, and linen apron." 
Again she notes with satisfaction that she had on her 
locket and her ** white whim (?), quite as nice as a 
First-day in town." In the closing pages of the 
Journal she appears resplendent in a ** new purple and 
white striped Persian, white petticoat, muslin apron, 
gauze cap and handkerchief ' ' 

Here and there we catch glimpses of her housewifely 
employments. She is skilled in ** needle wisdom." 
She sets *' a stocking on the needles and intends to be 
mightily industrious." She is ''darning an apron." 
One day she rises ''at half-past four" in the morning 
and irons "industriously till one o'clock." On 
another she "Read and work'd by turns." Her 
evenings are spent in "reading and chatting." 



The Wister family at the opening of the Journal 
consisted of its head, Daniel Wister, thirty-eight years 



1 8 Journal of [intro- 

of age, his wife Lowry, four years his junior, and 
their five children, — Sally, the eldest, aged sixteen ; 
Betsy, aged thirteen ; Hannah, aged ten ; Susanna, 
aged four, and John, an infant of eighteen months. 
They had evidently spent the summer of 1776 at their 
country house in Germantown,^ and in the autumn 
had probably returned to their city home ; but the 
British capture of New York and the threatening out- 
look for Philadelphia doubtless induced them thus soon 
to leave the city and take refuge at the Foulke farm. 
That they had made their quarters here as early as 
October, 1776, would seem to be true from the state- 
ment of Sally in the Journal under date of June 5 , 
1778, that they had resided at North Wales for 
twenty months. At any rate they were there in 
January, 1777, as is evidenced by a letter ^ from Deborah 
Norris, dated January 27, 1777, and addressed: 
**fFor Sally Wister ^""^ North Wales." 

^ jun 

The old Foulke house, which still remains in a good 

^ See letters of Peggy Rawle, dated July 28, and September 7, 

1776, addressed to " Sally Wister in Germantown," in Appendix. 
2 See letter in Appendix. That the family were still in 

Gwynedd in July is shown by a letter, dated Philadelphia, July 6, 

1777, written by John Wister to his grandchildren, Sally and 
Betsy Wister, at North Wales. — "Memoir of Charles J. 
Wister," I., 124. 



auction] Sally Wister 19 

state of preservation, was for its time a large and 
imposing mansion. It is located at the present Penllyn 
Station of the Reading Railway, on a gentle elevation 
a few hundred yards to the east of Wissahickon Creek. 
That part of the house which was standing at the time 
of the Revolution is built of stone, now coated with 
plaster, and is two stories high. »It was probably 
erected by Hannah Foulke's husband, William Foulke 
(1708— 1775), ^^*^ occupies the site of an earlier 
dwelling built by the latter' s grandfather, the emigrant 
ancestor of the Foulke family, Edward Foulke,^ a 
Welshman, who came to Pennsylvania in 1698 and 
purchased seven hundred acres of land in this part of 
Gwynedd Township. In recent times additions, 
which seem out of harmony, were made to the east 
and west ends of the dwelling, and it now presents 
the long, irregular front shown in the view here repro- 
duced. The central ivy-covered portion is the original 
house, and was the scene of most of the events 
described in the Journal. 

A short distance to the w^est of the house, near the 



^Edward Foulke (1651-1741) in 1702 wrote an interesting 
account in Welsh of his emigration and of his line of descent from 
a Welsh chieftain of the Twelfth Century, Rhirid Flaidd, Lord of 
Penllyn, in Merionethshire. — Jenkins, "Gwynedd." 



20 Journal of [imro- 

Wissahickon, was the ancient Foulke Mill, so 
frequently mentioned by Sally. It finally fell into 
disuse, and was removed in 1896. When I visited 
the place a few months since all that remained to mark 
the site were a great opening in the earth and two 
stone mill-burrs. 

Inside the original dwelling but few changes have 
been made ; the old fire-places, the low ceiHngs, the 
plain woodwork, and the other marks of its colonial 
simplicity are still preserved. The arrangement of the 
rooms as described by Sally Wister also remains. 
** The house," she writes, **has four rooms on a 
floor, with a wide entry running through." 

William Foulke had died in 1775, bequeathing the 
farm and mill to his son Jesse Foulke, but leaving to 
his wife Hannah a life interest in the estate. She was 
now living with her three unmarried children : Jesse, 
aged thirty-five, the head of the family and the owner 
and operator of the farm and mill ; Priscilla, aged 
thirty-three, and Lydia, aged twenty-one. 

The inventory of William Foulke' s personal estate, 
made at his death, and printed in full in the Appendix, 
is typical of that of the well-to-do Quaker farmer of 
the period. From the list can be formed a perfectly 
clear and definite idea of the general equipment of the 



auction] Sally Wister 21 

house and farm. The household items show that the 
dwelhng was plainly but comfortably furnished for that 
day ; although the floors were bare, and the walls 
unadorned save by mirrors. Except for the "Tea 
Spoons & Tongs" and the ** China Sc Delf wares" 
we miss the silver and other articles of luxury which 
are more usually found in inventories of city houses. 
From the internal evidence of the Journal it would 
seem that the Foulkes retained one side of the house 
and gave up the other with its furnishings to the 
Wisters. The Wisters, however, kept their own 
table. Apparently the domestic arrangements of the 
families were in every way pleasant, and they lived on 
the most intimate and friendly terms. They con- 
sidered themselves ** as of kin by marriage," Hannah 
Foulke's son, Amos Foulke, of Philadelphia, having 
married Hannah Jones, Mrs. Wister' s sister. Sally 
Wister was accustomed to speak of Mrs. Foulke as 
**Aunt Foulke" and of the Foulke children as 
** Cousin." 

It was not for long that the Wisters and Foulkes 
were to enjoy the peace and quiet of their solitary 
situation. Very soon the signs and sounds of war 
made their way thither. In the nrst entries of the 



22 Journal of [Intm- 

Journal we are introduced to alarms and aiFrights. 
The families are startled by ** a great noise." A 
** large number of waggons" appear, and three hun- 
dred of the Philadelphia militia draw up to the door 
begging for drink. Sally is ** mightily scar'd" and 
runs ** in at one door and out at the other, all in a 
shake with fear ; but after awhile, seeing the officers 
appear gentlemanly, and the soldiers civil," her ** fears 
were in some measure dispell' d, tho' " her ** teeth 
rattled," and her **hand shook Hke an aspen leaf." 

The next day she and ** the delicate, chicken- 
hearted Liddy " Foulke again are ** wretchedly 
scar'd" by a false report that the dreaded Hessians 
were approaching **and had actually turn'd into our 
lane." ** Well, the fright went off," but she hears 
that the forces are drawing nearer and expects soon 
**to be in the midst of one army or t'other," perhaps 
in the very centre of '* war, and ruin, and the clang of 
arms." 

On the following day, however, she experienced 
her ** greatest fright." A party of Virginia light 
horse rode up to the door and mistaking the red and 
blue of their uniforms for the British colors '* fear 
tack'd wings to" her feet and she *fled to the shelter 
of the house. 



auction] Sally Wister 23 

Now ** passes an interval of several weeks, in which 
nothing happen' d worth the time and paper it wou'd 
take to write it," until October 19th. Then comes a 
stirring and exciting day crowded with events for Sally 
to record. In the morning she hears ** the greatest 
dramming, fifing, and rattling of waggons that ever" 
was heard and goes a little distance to see the 
American Army as it marched on its way to take a 
nearer position to the city. In the evening comes the 
gallant General Small wood, commander oi' the Mary- 
land troops, with his staff and a large guard of soldiers, 
to take up his headquarters In the Foulke house. 
**The yard and house were in confusion, and glitter' d 
wath military equipments." ** There was great run- 
ning up and down stairs," and Sally has ** an 
opportunity of seeing and being seen, the former the 
most agreeable, to be sure." 

On this nearer view^ of the military she becomes 
reconciled to them and feels ** in good spirits, though 
surrounded by an Army, the house full of officers, and 
the yard alive with soldiers, — very peaceable sort of 
men, tho'." They are not such dreadful creatures 
after all. '* They eat like other folks, talk Hke them, 
and behave themselves with elegance ; so I will not be 
afraid of them, that I won't." With these observa- 



24 Journal of [Imro- 

tions she goes to her chamber to dream *' of bayonets 
and swords, sashes, guns, and epaulets." 

The next morning Sally was up early, and while 
** Somnus embraces" the General and his suite she 
begins those piquant and graphic pen-pictures that she 
has left of them. These officers were of the best 
blood of the South. They had fought in all the prin- 
cipal battles that had occurred up to this time, and the 
Maryland officers in particular had become famous for 
their courage and gallantry. Sally finds them well-bred 
and amiable, and during their fortnight's stay in the 
Foulke house takes much pleasure in their society. 

She proves especially susceptible to the charms of a 
young officer of near her own age, — Major William 
Truman Stoddert, nephew of the General and a 
descendant of one of the best and oldest families on the 
Western Shore of Maryland. On the first evening of 
the arrival of the party he particularly attracted her 
notice, but then ** appear 'd cross and reserv'd." 
She adds, however, ** Thee shall see hov/ agreeably 
disappointed I was." On the morning following this 
first acquaintance she thus characterizes him : 

** Well, here comes the glory, the Major, so bashful, 
** so famous, &c. He shou'd come before the Captain, 
** but never mind. 1 at first thought the Major cross 



auction] Sally Wister 25 

** and proud, but I was mistaken. He is about nineteen, 
** nephew to the Gen'l, and acts as Major of brigade to 
*' him ; he cannot be extoll'd for the graces of person, 
** but for those of the mind he may justly be celebrated ; 
** he is large in his person, manly, and [has] an engag- 
** ing countenance and address." 

On the third day the Major *Ms very reserv'd ; 
nothing but * Good morning, ' or * Your servant, 
madam.'" Sally now hears ** strange things of" 
him ; her informant, doubtless, being Captain 
Furnival, of Baltimore. The Major is " worth a 
fortune of thirty thousand pounds, independent of 
anybody" ; he is, moreover, ** very bashful; so 
much so he can hardly look at the ladies." Then she 
roguishly remarks in an aside, ** Excuse me, good sir ; 
I really thought you were not clever ; if 'tis bashful- 
ness only, we will drive that aw^ay." 

Several days now pass and Sally has made but little 
progress in getting acquainted with the Major ; she 
makes only the single entry : *' The Gen'l still here ; 
the Major still bashfull." Not until nearly a week 
after the arrival of the Major does his bashfulness 
finally disappear, and then it was her little brother 
Johnny, — scarcely old enough yet to play the part of 
the enfant terrible — who broke the ice between them 



26 Journal of [intro- 

It was on a Sunday evening. The Major was in 
the Wisters' parlor. It seems he had lived in the city 
for a time just before the war as a student in Philadel- 
phia College, now the University of Pennsylvania. 
In the course of the conversation he asked Mrs. Wister 
if she knew Miss Nancy Bond. Sally replied for her 
mother that the ' * amiable girl ' ' had died a year 
previously. Sally then notes : ** I was diverting 
Johnny at the table, when he [the Major] drew up 
his chair to it and began to play with the child. I 
ask'd him if he knew N. Bond. * No, ma'am, but 
I have seen her often.' One word brought on 
another, and we chatted the greatest part of the even- 
ing. He said he knew me directly he saw me. 
Told me exactly where we liv'd." 

Thenceforth the Major makes himself very agree- 
able. Sally now receives pohte ** Good Mornings." 
He ** is more sociable than ever. No wonder ; a 
stoic cou'd not resist such affable damsels as we are." 
She finds him **very clever, amiable, and polite. He 
has the softest voice, never pronounces the R at all." 

She is verv much vexed when the ** disagreeable " 
Dr. Diggs ** props himself between the Major and 
me " at the tea-table ; so that ** after I had drank tea, 
I jumpM from the table and seated myself at the fire." 



auction] Sally Wister 27 

The Major ** followed my example, drew his chair 
close to mine, and entertain' d me very agree- 
ably." ** No harm. I assure thee: he and I are 
friends." 

*' October 2gth. — I walk'd into aunt's this evening. 
** I met the Major. Well, thee will think 1 am 
** writing his history; but not so. Pleased with the 
** rencounter, Liddy, Betsy, Stodard, and myself, 
*' seated by the fire, chatted away an hour in hvely 
** and agreeable conversation. I can't pretend to write 
** all he said ; but he shone in every subject that we 
-talk'dof" 

At the end of a week Sally's sentiment for the 
Major, as she informs her friend, has reached the 
stage of ** esteem," but we strongly suspect that not 
even to so rare a confidante as Deborah Norris is the 
whole revealed. ** Another very charming conver- 
sation with the young Marylander," she writes. 
** He seem'd possessed of very amiable manners ; 
sensible and agreeable. He has by his unexceptionable 
deportment engag'd my esteem." 

Early in November the General receives orders to 
march, and the time of parting comes. Sally is ** very 
sorry ; for when you have been with agreeable people, 
'tis impossible not to feel regret when they bid you 



28 Journal of [intro- 

adieu, perhaps forever." Then she significantly 
remarks : **The Major looks dull." 

** About two o'clock the Gen. and Major came to 
«*bid us adieu. With daddy and mammy they shook 
*' hands very friendly ; to us they bow'd politely. 

** Our hearts were full. I thought Major was 
** affected. 

** * Good-bye, Miss Sally,' spoken very low. He 
**walk'd hastily, mounted his horse. . . . and 
** cantered away. . . . We look'd at him till the 
** turn in the road hid him from our sight. ... I 
** wonder whether w^e shall ever see him again." 

She now ** skips " a few weeks, ** nothing of 
consequence occurring " except the visit of two 
Virginians who disgust her with their conversation 
about ** turkey hash and fry'd hominy " — ** a pretty 
discourse to entertain the ladies." 

On the 5 th of December she is again greatly 
alarmed on hearing that the British have come out 
from the city to attack Washington in his intrenchments 
at Whitemarsh. ** What will become of us only six 
miles distant ? We are in hourly expectation of an 
engagement. I fear we shall be in the midst of it. 
Heaven defend us from so dreadful a sight." 

On the evening of the 6th she is filled with 



auction] Sally Wister 29 

anxiety to see Major Stoddert return ill with fever, 
brought on by exposure to cold and fatiguing camp 
life. He is no longer " hvely, alert and blooming," 
but ** pale, thin, and dejected, too weak to rise." 

He soon grows better, however, and he and Sally 
once more enjoy each other's society. She now 
becomes reconciled to the ** dreadful situation" and 
laughs and chats, even **tho' two such large armies are 
within six miles of us." On the afternoon of the 
seventh ** platoon firing" was heard and the Major in 
spite of his weak condition was determined to return 
to the Army, not even Sally's gentle pleading, ** Oh ! 
Major, thee is not going " — in which she ** discovered 
a strong partiality ' ' — could avail ; he went on with 
his preparations. But the firing soon ceased **and 
after persuasions innumerable " ** he reluctantly agreed 
to stay. Ill as he was, he would have gone. It 
showed his bravery, of which we all believe him 
possess' d of a large share." 

In the course of a few days two new figures appear 
upon the scene, one of whom was destined to be 
** a principal' character " in the liveliest if not the most 
dramatic part of the whole narrative. These were 
two young Virginia officers. Captain Lipscomb, '* a 
tall, genteel man," and Mr. Tilly, ** a wild, noisy 



30 Journal of [intro- 

mortal," who had a flute, but to Sally's vexation did 
** nothing but play the fool." 

Sally, however, comes to think Mr. Tilly very 
handsome and bids her heart **be secure." But this 
*' caution was needless; I found it without a wish to 
stray.'' 

Of the episode of the ** British Grenadier," of 
Stoddert's and Sally's plot to frighten the **wild and 
noisy " Tilly, and of the success of the scheme I. 
shall leave Sally's own clever pen to tell. 

On December 13th, the day following Tilly's 
** retreat," Sally writes : ** Ah, Deborah, the Major is 
going to leave us entirely — just going. I will see him 
first." Then at noon : ** He has gone. I saw him 
pass the bridge. ... I seem to fancy he will return 
in the even^'." But in the evening he does ** not 
come back. We shall not, I fancy, see him again for 
months, perhaps years, unless he should visit Philada." 
She then concludes, without committing herself 
further : **We shall miss his agreeable company." 
A week later when the other officers take their leave 
she is ** sorry " but ** 'tis a diiFerent kind from what I 
felt some time since. We had not contracted so great 
an intimacy with those last." 

Here the Major takes his final leave ; and henceforth 



auction] Sally Wister 31 

he figures no more in these pages. He did not return 
to the Foulke homestead, nor so far as we know did 
he ever meet Sally again. 

But little penetration is needed to perceive that the 
fine thread of a love-story runs through these entries. 
It must be an unsympathetic reader who can dismiss 
the whole episode as a mere camp flirtation. Certainly, 
on Sally's part at least, the matter had gone beyond the 
stage of jesting. As for the Major, although we only 
see him through Sally's eyes, we can hardly doubt that 
the old Foulke homestead drew him back to its shelter 
with a magnet more potent than military reasons. But 
that the course of true love was checkered or obstructed 
would seem to be evident. That such an intimacy 
could not be encouraged is not to be wondered at. A 
wide gulf of social and religious prejudice lay between 
them. He was a Maryland cavalier, a member of the 
Church of England, and a soldier, rich in slaves and 
plantation lands. She was a Quaker maiden, a member 
of a religious body that held war to be unchristian, and 
forbade its members to marry out of the Society or to 
hold slaves. 

Howbeit, when in t^he course of years the Major 
took unto himself a wife, the lady of his choice also 
bore the name of Sally. Whether this was merely 



32 Journal of [imro- 

chance, or whether some fleeting memory of an earher 
time, of days spent in pleasant companionship with the 
Quaker maiden in the old farmhouse on the Wissa- 
hickon, directed his fancy and influenced his choice, 
history saith not. He died in his early maturity from 
the Hngering effects of the hardships of camp life. 
Sally Wister died unmarried a few years later. 



In the latter part of February, in company with her 
friend Polly Fishbourne, who had been making her a 
visit in Gwynedd, Sally goes down to Whitemarsh to 
spend a week with Polly's married sister Sarah, wife of 
George Emlen, with whom General Washington had 
made his headquarters a few months previously. An 
incident of particular interest in connection with this 
visit is her ascent of the ** barren hills of White- 
marsh" and her reference to the ** ragged huts, imita- 
tions of chimneys, and many other ruinous objects," 
remains of the encampment of the Army that she found 
there. 

The 1st of March finds her back **at my old 
habitation at the Mill," but paper being scarce *Mn 
this part of the country ' ' and her life uneventful she 
makes no further entries for this month. 



auction] Sally Wistei 33 

With the advance of spring *' the scene begins to 
brighten," and, during the remainder of the Journal, to 
Sally's delight but not to that of the older members of 
the family, who were becoming impatient of so much 
** quartering," a number oi' officers of the Continental 
Army appear at the Foulke mansion. Of these later 
comers none is more interesting and attractive to Sally 
than the gallant and picturesque Captain Dandridge, 
''the handsomest man in existence." There is no 
more charming bit of writing in the Journal than the 
picture she gives of him, and their passes of wit and 
raillery. Indeed, we fear for a time that the Major 
has a rival, but Sally assures us she escapes heart free. 
In one of Sally's encounters with Dandridge an 
interesting light is thrown upon the attitude of the 
Wisters in the struggle for independence. As members 
of the Society of Friends they professed to take a 
neutral position and stood firmly by their testimony 
against war. That they wished to avoid the discussion 
of political questions is shown by an entry of Sally's, 
made December iith. She relates that one evening 
after the officers had taken tea in the Wister parlor, 
** the conversation turned on politicks, a subject I 
avoid. I gave Betsy a hint. I rose, she followed, 
and we went " out of the room. 



34 Journal of [imro- 

But although opposed to war the Wisters, like fully 
ninety per cent, of the Quakers, were at heart friends 
of liberty and silent sympathizers with their country's 
cause. ^ There is no doubt as to the side that Sally 
takes. All through the Journal she reveals her 
sympathy for the Americans, and she is quick to 
repudiate Dandridge's accusation that she is a Tory. 

Finally, on the 19th of June comes the welcome 
news that the British have withdrawn from the 
city. Sally can scarcely contain herself. *' This is 
charmarite ! . . . It is true. They have gone. 
Past a doubt . . . may they never, never return." 
** I now think of nothing but returning to Philadel- 
phia." With this, on the 20th of June, 1778, she 
brings to a close her North Wales Journal. 

From later entries made in the back part o^ the 
manuscript book containing her Journal we learn that 
the family did not return to the city until July. Sally 
then writes : 

*' Philadelphia, July, lyyS. — It has at length 
*' pleased the Almighty to restore us to our friends and 
*' native city. May I be grateful for this & every other 

^ See Isaac Sharpless' work, " The Quakers in the Revolution," 
and Gilbert Cope's paper on " Friends in the Revolution," read 
before the Chester County Historical Society, November, 1902. 



auction] Sally Wister 3S 

"blessing. I will just relate a few circumstances that 
*< occur* d. We intended removing immediately to 
''town upon my father's return from Lancaster, 
** which did happen the third day after the evacuation 
**of Phila*^, but our intentions were frustrated by a 
** severe fit of illness, which my sister Betsy had ; it 
** held her two weeks. Thro' the goodness of provi- 
** dence she was again restor'd to us. We then bid 
*< adieu to the peaceful tho' solitary Shades of 

** N. Wales, which for the space of months 

** afforded us as undisturb'd a retirement as the 
** unhappy situation of affairs wou'd admit. Ardent 
** as my desires were to return to this dear city, I did 
** not leave our good and obHging relations and quiet 
*« retreat, without regret. I sigh'd, and the starting 
** tear stood trembhng in my eye. A tear was a poor 
** tribute to the many happy scenes I have enjoy' d 
** there; yet they shall ever live in my memory. I 
**will fondly cherish the idea of past happiness and 
* ♦ shall often give a tear and [a] sigh to the remem- 
** brance of joyful hours beyond recovery fled. 

** I had the satisfaction of finding my frds in posses- 
*« sion of health and tolerable spirits. My heart 
**danc'd and eyes sparkled at the sight of the 
** companions of my girlish days. Add to this 
«* the rattling of carriages over the streets — harsh 
** music, tho' preferable to croaking frogs and screech- 
** ing owls. 

** I don't expect anything uncommon will mark my 



3^ Journal of [imro- 

** future life, therefore shall not continue this relation 
"journal-wise, tho' sometime hence I may add a 
*'line or two." 

The later jottings, which were made at long intervals, 
are not of sufficient interest to print in full, but from 
them we find that for a number of years she was kept 
informed of the doings of some of her soldier friends. 

January 4, 1780, she has heard that **Gen'l[sJ 
Smallwood and Guest,, [and] Col. Wood are still in 
the Army, Col. Line [is] in Virginia, Capt Furnival 
in Maryland. The worthy Stodard is much indispos'd 
at his home in the last mentioned state. The mild 
Capt Smallwood -and amiable Lipscomb are no longer 
inhabitants of this terrestrial world, snatch' d in the 
bloom of youth by unrelenting death from all earthly 
connexions. I experienc'd a good deal of pleasure in 
the transient acquaintance I had with these young men ; 
but they are no more. I felt sorry when I heard of 
their deaths." 

In the same year she notes : ** Dandridge, the gay, 
the gallant, roving Dandridge is at last bound or on 
the verge of being bound in hymen's fetters. I hope 
the lady may possess prudence and discretion . . . ." 

A little later she hears a false report of General 
Smallwood' s death. *< I am extremely sorry to make 



auction] Sally * Wister 37 

an addition to my journal upon an occasion so affecting 
and melancoly as the present. The amiable, worthy 
General Smallwood in full possession of the goods of 
this world and in the vigour of life fell in the battle 
with Cornwallis, August i6th, 1780. The British 
soldiery, with savage cruelty not contented with rob- 
bing the agreeable man of life us'd his breathless corse 
in the most shocking manner, mangling it with their 
bayonets. What a disgrace to human nature was such 
a barbarous procedure. I ardently hope, and make no 
doubt, that the General, whose soul I am confident 
was a stranger to such vices, is enjoying happiness 
inexpressible in the mansions of eternal felicity. 
Esteem' d and belov'd by all that knew him whilst 
living. In his death regretted and lamented not only 
as a loss to his family and friends, but to the public. 
The remembrance of his virtues and the happy hours I 
have spent in his company shall always be present to 
my mind. The following lines extremely applicable : 

Happy The brave who sink to rest 
By all then countrys wishes blest ; 
When spring with dewy fingers cold, 
Returns to deck their hallow' d mold, 
She there shall dress a sweeter sod ; 
Than Fancys feet have ever trod, 
By fairys hands their knell is rung, 
By forms unseen their dirge is sung. 



38 Journal of [intro- 

There Honor comes a Pilgrim grey, 
To bless the turf that wraps their clay, 
And Freedom shall awhile repair, 
To dwell a weeping Hermit there. 

May all those brave men who were companions in 
war and in death with General Smallwood enjoy 
eternal happy ness." 

But General Smallwood was destined for a m.ilder 
death. Sally writes : 

** Sept. 1 2 thy I '/So. — It is with heartfelt pleasure 
**I have heard that the report of Genl Smallwood' s 
** death was premature. He was not only favour' d to 
** survive the engagement, but by signal acts of bravery 
**has gain'd great honor. I wish the laurels he has 
*' gather' d may flourish with unfading lustre." 

In August, 1 78 1, she makes a record of Dr. 
Gould's death, which will be found included in the 
footnote on page 77. 

We catch only occasional glimpses of Sally Wister's 
later life. In the spring of 1781 she comes before us 
in the diarv of her friend, Anna Rawle,^ of Phila- 
delphia, who writes : 

''April 1 8th, lySl, 4th- day. — Sally Wister 
*«and Betsy Wister drank tea with us." 

^ For sketch of Anna Rawle see page 205. 




auction] Sally Wister 39 

" May i6thy lySiy 4th-day. — Sally Wister came 
**this evening to speak to Caty Neal. She sat an 
** hour here — she was talking of the ball on board the 
** French frigate — of the ladies 
** they say Nancy Bingham ^ made 
** the most elegant figure, drest in a 
** suit of black velvet — However, 
**as there must be censurers h was 
* * thought a great impropriety for 
**her to go into so much company 
**when her mother has been dead 
"but three months — and for Mrs. 

- P. too, as she has within ^nna Rawle. 

**this four weeks had letters to inform her of Charles 
*'Willings death in Barbadoes — " 

Another entry from the same diary shows that 
although Sally was a patriot in her sympathies yet she 
w^as enough interested in relieving distress to assist in 
clothing the British prisoners : 



1 Under date of Nov. 4, 1780, Anna Rawle writes of Mrs. 
Bingham : " Speaking of handsome women brings Nancy Will- 
ing to my mind. She might set for the Queen of Beauty, and is 
lately married to Bingham, who returned from the West Indies 
with an immense fortune. They have set out in the highest style, 
nobody here will be able to make the figure they do ; equipage, 
house, cloathes, are all the newest taste, — and yet some people 
wonder at the match. She but sixteen and such a perfect form. 
His appearance is less amiable." 



-/ 



40 Journal of [intro- 

*' 4th-dayy Jan. 2J, iy82. — B. S/ here after 
"dinner — A person who had charitably suppUed the 
** British prisoners with Hnnen sent some of it here 
<* and to Aunt Fishers to make into sheets ; it was the 
** toughest Hnnen I ever worked at — it made all our 
* ' fingers bleed — But I ought not to conceal other 
* ' people' s charities it was Sally Wistar w^ho gave it — " 

In 1789, after the death of his father, Daniel Wister 
made the Germantown house his permanent residence, 
and here Sally lived the remainder of her life. As she 
grew to wo- 
rn a n h o o d //^ /C 

she became ^^^Z^ ^^^^p^^eyC 7^^^^^ 
sedate and 

dignified, but letters in the form of verse written to her 
brothers show that she still retained much of her former 
brightness and humor. 

She was fond of writing poetry, and some of her 
productions, written over the ?iom-de -plume of** Laura " 
appeared in the Philadelphia Portfolio. 

In her later life 
she went very little ^i^'kx^f**^ ^T^L^^^i^^ 
into society and her 
mind was much occupied with religious matters. She 



Benjamin Shoemaker, Anna Rawle's stepbrothe 




. ^ 



^ % 



duction] Sally Wister 41 

was much devoted to her mother, and the death of the 
latter was such a severe blow to her that she survived 
only two months, dying April 21, 1804.^ 

The celebrated Dr. Rush, the family physician, thus 
wrote of her death in the Philadelphia Gazettey of 
April 25, I 804 : 

** Died on Wednesday last. Miss Sarah Wister. 
*« The distress occasioned by the death of this highly 
** accomphshed and valuable lady is greatly heightened 
** by recently succeeding that of her excellent mother. 

<* Few families have ever furnished two such shining 
** examples of prudence, virtue, piety, and eminent 
** acquirements ; and as few persons have ever produced 
**by their deaths more heartfelt grief to a numerous 
"circle of relations and friends.'* 



The original manuscript, from which the Journal is 
printed, covers forty pages of linen laid paper in size 
six inches wide by seven and a half inches long. It is 
bound in heavy marbled paper, now much worn with 
age, and except for the first page, which in parts is 
faded and time-stained, the writing is well preserved. 
Considering that one and a quarter centuries have 



^ " Memoir of Charles J. Wister," by his son, Charles J. 
Wister, Jr., privately printed, Germantown, 1866. 



42 Journal of [intro- 

elapsed since the entries were made, the little book is 
in very good condition. The handwriting, as may be 
seen by the photographic reproductions, is legible and 
characteristic. The Journal is now for the first time 
printed in its entirety. 

The errors made in spelling and composition may be 
overlooked in a girl of Sally's age ; they were failings 
common to the time and only add to the quaintness of 
the Journal. On the whole it must be admitted that it 
is a remarkable production for a girl of sixteen. 

The manuscript is now in possession of our author's 
nephew, Mr. Charles J. Wister, of Germantown, to 
whom I am under obligations for many courtesies ; he 
has not only given me access to the Journal and other 
treasured family papers and relics, but has in every way 
possible furthered my undertaking. He has examined 
the proofs of the work and approved its publication. 
I also desire to express my thanks to the many other 
persons who have assisted me in various ways ; espe- 
cially would I mention John W. Jordan, Ph.D., and 
the other officials of the Historical Society of Pennsyl- 
vania ; the Maryland Historical Society and its cour- 
teous Librarian, Mr. George W. McCreary ; the 
Episcopal Library of Baltimore ; Mr. Hugh A. 
Morrison, Jr., of the Congressional Library, Washing- 



auction] Sally Wister 43 

ton, D. C. ; Mr. Thomas E. Nimmo, of the State 
Library, Richmond, Virginia ; the New York His- 
torical Society and its Librarian, Mr. Robert H. 
Kelby ; Mr. Albert C. Bates, Librarian of the Con- 
necticut Historical Society, Hartford ; Mr. Bunford 
Samuels, of the Ridgway Branch of the Philadelphia 
Library Company ; Miss Cordelia Jackson, of George- 
town, D. C. ; Mr. Gustavus Truman Brown and 
Mrs. Vernon Dorsey, of Washington, D. C. ; Mr. 
Kirk Brown, and Mrs. Elizabeth Stoddert Bowie, of 
Baltimore ; Mr. Emerson Collins, of Williamsport, Pa. ; 
the Virginia Historical Society, Richmond ; and Mr. 
Nathan F. Carter, Librarian of the New Hampshire 
Historical Society, Concord. 

My thanks are also due to Hon. Samuel W. 
Pennypacker, Mr. Henry Pemberton, Mr. William 
Brooke Rawle, Mr. Francis Rawle, Hon. Boies 
Penrose, Miss Anne Hollingsworth Wharton, Mr. 
Samuel Troth, Mrs. John T. Lewis, and Mr. Thomas 
D. Bolger, of Philadelphia ; to Mr. Albanus C. 
Logan, Miss Maria Dickinson Logan, Mr. James 
Emlen, and Miss Sarah M. Whitesides, of German- 
town ; to Mrs. William Truman Stoddert, of 
Winchester, Virginia ; to Mr. William H. Richardson, 
of Jersey City, N. J. ; to Mr. W. Gordon Smythe, 



44 Journal [imrod 



t. 



uction 



of West Conshohocken, Pa. ; to Mr. Gilbert Cope, 
of West Chester, Pa. ; to Mrs. Priscilla Walker 
Streets, of Brooklyn, N. Y. ; to Mr. Walter J. 
Mitchell, of La Plata, Charles County, Md. ; to 
Mr. F. Potts Green, of Bellefonte, Pa. ; to Miss 
Susan Miles, of Milesburg, Pa. ; and to Mr. and 
Mrs. J. Albert Caldwell, the present occupants of the 
Foulke Mansion at Penllyn, Pa. 

I have indicated my principal sources of information 
* 'in the footnotes, but I am especially indebted for con- 
i siderable data to Howard M. Jenkins's excellent work, 
;;i:' ** Historical Collections of Gwynedd," and to Francis 
'^ B. Heitman's ** Historical Register of the Revolu- 
tion.'' 

Albert Cook Myers. 

Philadelphia, December 12, igo2. 



*v 



CONTENTS 

Introduction , , . , 5 

List of Illustrations 49 

Sally Wister's Journal 65 

Appendix 187 

Letters to Sally Wister : 

From Deborah Norris, — I. . 1 89 

From Deborah Norris. — II 194 

From Deborah Norris. — III I98 

From Peggy Rawle. — I 202 

From Peggy Rawle. — II 204 

From Polly Fishbourne . . • 207 

Inventory of the Personai. Estate of William 

FouLioE ..210 

Index ••.••,..217 




ILLUSTRATIONS 

"The British Grenadier" .... Frontispiece 
Reproduced by the three-color process from the original 
figure, life-size, painted on wood one inch thick, in 
possession of Charles J. Wister, Esq., of Germantown. 
Sally Wister notes under date of December 12, 1777, 
that the figure had been brought to the Foulke house, 
"some weeks" before from the house of her uncle. 
Colonel Samuel Miles, a mile away. Its origin is 
unknown, but it has been suggested that it was one of 
the stage decorations made by Major Andre for use in 
connection with the British theatricals during the 
British occupation of Philadelphia. I am informed by 
the British War Office, in a letter dated November 7, 
1902, that it "is a faithful representation of a Cold- 
stream Guardsman about the period 1745." 

Heading. — Antique Lock and Chair ... 5 

From Wister Mansion, Germantown. 



Deborah Logan ('*Debby Norris") . . . 
From photograph of portrait , painted by George W. 
Conarroe, in 1839, in possession of a descendant. 
Miss Maria Dickinson Logan, of " Loudoun," Ger- 
mantown. 



so 



Journal of [iiii 



WisTER Mansion, Germantown |lo 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 

Mrs. William Rawle ('* Sally Burge") . . 14 

From a panel portrait by Gilbert Stuart, owned by 
a descendant, Francis Rawle, Esq., of Philadelphia. 
Painted on mahogany, 24 by 29 inches. White dress, 
with dark green cloak falling from the shoulders ; white 
muslin cap ; hair brown ; eyes blue ; red curtain at 
open window in left background. 

The Foulke Mansion at Penllyn 19 

The central part of the house only was standing in 
1 777-1 778 5 the end wings are of later erection. 
The Journalist says : '* The house has four rooms on a 
floor, with a wide entry running through." 

Anna Rawle (Mrs. John Clifford ) 39 

From silhouette in possession of a descendant, Henry 
Pemberton, Esq., of Philadelphia. 

Autograph of Daniel Wister 40 

Autograph of Lowry Wister 40 

Wister Mansion, Germantown 40 

From an old Drawing. 

SiTTiNG-RooM, Wister Mansion, Germantown . 41 
From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 



trations] Sally WistcF 51 

Half— TITLE. — Door Latch 45 

From Wister Mansion, Germantown. 

Heading. — Antique Lamp and Candlesticks 49 
From Wister Mansion, Germantown. 

Heading 65 

Sally Wister 65 

From silhouette in possession of her nephew, Charles 
J. Wister, Esq., of Germantown. 

Autograph of Dr. Enoch Edwards .... 69 

From signature to his will dated December 31, 1801, 

Philadelphia Wills, No. 60. 

The Old Foulke Mill at Penllyn .... 69 

Taken down in January, 1896. From photograph 
made by Mr. William H. Richardson, of Jersey City, 
New Jersey. 

Autograph of William Lindsay 71 

From signature to a letter (from Collector's Office at 
Norfolk), dated March 29, 1794, to Governor Henry 
Lee, of Virginia, MS. in State Library, Richmond. 

Autograph of George Emlen 75 

From signature to a manuscript in the collection of the 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



Journal of [iiius- 



AUTOGRAPH OF GeNERAL WiLLIAM SmaLLWOOD . 78 

From signature to a letter dated Woodyard, February 

14, 1776, addressed to the President of the Council of 
Safety in Annapolis, MS. No. 192, in Red Book No. 

15, Maryland Historical Society. 



Autograph of Captain Ebenezer Finley . . 80 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 

Autograph of Horatio Claggett 80 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 

Autograph of Colonel James Wood . ... 82 

From signature as Governor of Virginia attached to a 
Commission, dated April 22, 1794, MSS. E. F. No. 
53, Virginia Historical Society, Richm.ond. 

General William Smallwood 82 

From photograph of portrait painted by Charles Willson 
Peale, in Independence Hall, Philadelphia. 

Autograph of Captain Alexander Furnival . 84 

From signature to a letter dated at Baltimore, November 
26, 1777, MS. No. 40, in Red Book No. 14, 
Maryland Historical Society, Baltimore. 



trations] Sally WistCF S3 



Major William Truman Stoddert .... 84 

From a miniature in possession of a great-great-grand- 
daughter, Miss Bessie Stoddert Hopkins, of " Snowden 
Hall," Bowie, Prince George County, Maryland. Size 
of portrait i l^ x 1 14^ inches. Set in a gold frame. The 
hat with its plume is black, the hair powdered gray, 
the eyes blue, the coat dark blue, lapel and shoulder 
straps bright red, with neckcloth white. On the 
reverse side, covered with glass, is a mass of woven hair of 
light brown color, upon which is placed the gold mono- 
gram, W T S. 



"The Major" 86 

Photographic reproduction of two pages of the original 
manuscript of the Journal. 



Autograph of John Wister, 1830 . . . . 90 

From a fly leaf of a volume in a set of Shakespeare in 
possession of his nephew, Charles J. Wister, Esquire, 
of Germantown. 



Autograph of Colonel Mordecai Gist . . 92 

From signature to a letter dated "Camp," October 
17, 1 781, to General Washington, Conarroe Collection, 
Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 



Autograph of Cole Diggs 93 

From a signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 



54 Journal of [inus- 



COLONEL MORDECAI GiST 95 

From photograph of portrait painted by Charles Willson 
Peale, in collection of Maryland Historical Society, 
Baltimore. Eyes, blue gray j hair, very light brown j 
coat, dark blue ; lapel and vest, buff; rosette on hat, 
gold. 



«*The Parlour" and Old Firei'Laces, Foulke 

Mansion 96 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 

North Chamber, with Old Fireplace, Foulke 

Mansion 98 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 

The Wissahickon, near Foulke Mansion, 

]*ENLLYN 100 

From a IMiotograph, taken October, 1902. 

CoLONHi, Samuel Miles 1 04. 

From portrait, said to be by l^;ale, in possession of a 
descendant. Miss Susan Miles, of Milesburg, Centre 
County, Pennsylvania. Size of portrait 24 x 28 inches. 
Fyts and hair gray. Coat black. A portrait exactly 
like this has come down to another descendant. Miss 
Frances M. McKean, of Washington, 1). C. 



trations] Sally WistCF 55 



[04 



Autograph of Colonel Samuel Miles . . , 

From signature to a letter dated August 28, 1777, at 
Spring Mill Farm, addressed to Elias Boudinot, Com- 
missary General. In Autograph Collection of His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania. 



Autograph of Polly Fishbourne 105 

From signature to a letter written from Potsgrove, now 
Pottstown, Pa., in 1776, to "Sally Wister Phila- 
delphia," in collection of Mr. Charles J. Wister. 

The Dining-room, Foulke Mansion, Penllyn .112 
From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 



Autograph of Deborah Norris 114 

From signature to a letter dated January 27, 1777, 
addressed " ffor Sally Wister ^^ North Wales," in 
collection of Mr. Charles J. Wister. 



Autograph of Captain Reuben Lipscomb 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 



The ** Other Figure" 127 

Photographed from the original figure, life size, painted 
on wood, one inch thick, in possession of Charles J. 
Wister, Esq., of Germantown. 



56 Journal of [nius- 

** The Entry" and ** The First Landing of 

THE Stairs," Foulke Mansion , . .128 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 

** Tilly and the British Grenadier" . . .136 

Photographic reproduction of four pages of the original 
manuscript of the Journal. 

Emlen House, *< Whitemarsh," now Camp 

Hill 139 

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Washington's 
Headquarters, December, 1777. From photograph 
made by Mr. William H. Richardson, of Jersey City, 
New Jersey. 

Emlen House in 1848 140 

From a sketch made by Benson J. Lossing in 1848, 
and reproduced in his " Field-Book of the Revolution." 

Sarah Emlen (i 756-1 829), Wife of George 

Emlen 142 

From a miniature in possession of a granddaughter, 
Mrs. Sarah E. Meredith, of New York City. Size, 
z^X2}4 inches. Colors — eyes, dark grey; hair, 
almost white ; gown, grey ; shawl, kerchief, and cap, 
white. 

Autograph of Major John Jameson . . . .143 

From signature to a letter, dated Culpepper, January 8, 
1794, to Governor Henry Lee, of Virginia, MSS. of 
the Revolution, State Library, Richmond. 



i 



trations] Sally WlstcF 57 

View from " The Barren Hills of White- 
marsh," NOW Camp Hill 144 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902. 

Old Mantel and Fireboard, Emlen House . 146 

From a Photograph, taken October, 1902 

Autograph of Dr. Charles Moore . . . .146 

From signature to a letter, dated Montgomery, Febru- 
ary 22, 1796, to Robert Proud, in regard to the publi- 
cation of the latter's "History of Pennsylvania," 
Dreer Collection, Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Colonel Daniel Brodhead 147 

From photograph of a miniature in possession of Mrs. 
Johnson, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania, widow of the 
late Henry Johnson, Esq., of Muncy, Pa., to whom it 
descended through his mother, Mrs. Rebecca J. 
Johnson, granddaughter of General Brodhead. In his 
will, dated August 8, 1809, probated in Wayne 
County, Pennsylvania, November 25, 1809, General 
Brodhead thus disposed of his portraits : "I give to my 
Granddaughter Rebecca Johnson (late Rebecca Heiner) 
my miniature picture set in gold " and *' to my Grand- 
daughter Catharine Brodhead my small portrait picture." 
The miniature, in size i5/g x i}{ inches, is painted on 
ivory and set in a gold frame. The eyes are blue, and 
the hair white. The uniform is blue with scarlet 
facings. The waistcoat and stock are white. 



58 Journal of [nius- 



AUTOGRAPH OF GeNERAL- WiLLIAM MaXWELL . 1 47 

From signature to a letter, dated Westfield, January 20, 
1777, to Mr. Ervine, Commissary-General at Mor- 
ristown, Autograph Collection, Historical Society of 
Pennsylvania. 



Autograph of Colonel Daniel Brodhead , 148 

From signature to a letter, dated Sommerset, April 24, 
1777, to General Lincoln, Dreer Collection, Historical 
Society of Pennsylvania. 



Major Aaron Ogden 148 

From original portrait painted by Asher B. Durand, in 
collection of New York Historical Society. 



Autograph of Major Aaron Ogden . . . .149 

From signature to a letter dated Jersey City, March 28, 
1834, Dreer Collection, Historical Society of Penn- 
sylvania. 



Autograph of Captain Cadwallader Jones . 1 50 

From signature in manuscripts of the Revolution, State 
Library, Richmond, Virginia. 



trations 



Sally Wister 59 



Autograph of Captain Amos Emerson . . .152 

From signature to a manuscript in State Library, 
Concord, New Hampshire. 



Autograph of Captain John Watts . . . . 1 54 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 



Captain Dandridge " 156 

Photographic reproduction of a page of the original 
manuscript of the Journal. 



Autograph of Captain Alexander Spots- 
wood Dandridge 156 

From signature to his will, dated March 4, 1784, 
probated May 17, 1785, in Register Office, Martins- 
burgh, Berkeley County, West Virginia. 



Sally Wister's Sampler 159 

Reproduced by the three-color process from the original, 
in possession of her nephew, Charles J. Wister, Esq., 
of Germantown. 



6o Journal of [iiu 



Autograph of Captain John Swan . . . . i66 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 



Autograph of Captain Andrew Nixon . .174 

From signature in Revolutionary War Records, War 
Department, Washington, D. C. 



Autograph of General John Lacey .... 

From signature to a letter dated Doylestown, March 21, 
1778, to Thomas Wharton, Dreer Collection, His- 
torical Society of Pennsylvania. 



''The End" 185 

Photographic reproduction of a page of the original 
manuscript of the Journal. 



Heading — Antique Chairs 189 

From Wister Mansion, Germantown. The central 
chair was presented to John Wister, Sally Wister's 
grandfather, by his friend, Count Zinzendorf, the cele- 
brated Moravian missionary, about 1740. 



trations] Sally Wistcr 6i 



Margaret Rawle (Mrs. Isaac Wharton) . .192 

From photograph of portrait painted by Thomas Sully, 
in possession of Mrs. William H. Gaw, of Philadelphia. 



Autograph of Peggy Rawle 192 

From signature to a letter, dated September 7, 1776, 
addressed " To Sally Wister in Germantown," in 
collection of Mr. Charles J. Wister. 



Sallg TOister's Sournal 




Sally Wister 




To Deborah Norris^: — 

The' I have not the least shadow of an 
opportunity to send a letter, if I do write, 
I will keep a sort of journal of the time 
that may expire before I see thee : the 
perusal of it may some time hence give 
pleasure in a solitary hour to thee and our 
Sally Jones.^ 

Yesterday, which was the 24th of Sep- 
tember, two Virginia officers calFd at our 
house, and inform'd us that the British 
Army had cross'd the Schuylkill. Pres- 
ently after, another person stopped, and 

^ For sketch of Deborah Norris see p. 114. 

' Doubtless this was Sally Wister's aunt, Sarah Jones, born 
May 30, 1760, who married Samuel Rutter. The aunt was 
only one year older than the niece. 



66 Journal of [Sept. 25 

confirm'd what they had said, and that 
Gen'l Washington and Army were near 
Pottsgrove.' Well, thee may be sure we 
were sufficiently scared ; however, the 
road was very still till evening. 

About seven o'clock we heard a great 
noise. To the door we all went. A large 
number of waggons, with about three hun- 
dred of the Philadelphia Militia. They 
begged for drink, and several push'd 
into the house. One of those that 
entered was a little tipsy, and had a 
mind to be saucy. 

I then thought it time for me to retreat ; 
so figure me (mightily scar'd, as not having 
presence of mind enough to face so many 
of the Military), running in at one door, 
and out another, all in a shake with fear ; 
but after a while, seeing the officers appear 

^ The Battle of Brandywine had occurred September nth, and 
the surprise and massacre at Paoli on the night of the 20th. 
Howe crossed at Gordon's Ford (now Phcenixville), and Fatland 
Ford, on September 23d, to the east side of the Schuylkill, and 
thence moved down to Philadelphia. Washington was at Potts- 
grove for several days, and then moved over to the Perkiomen. 
— H. M. Jenkins. 



1777] Sally Wister 67 

gentlemanly, and the soldiers civil, I call'd 
reason to my aid. My fears were in some 
measure dispell'd, tho' my teeth rattled, 
and my hand shook like an aspen leaf. 
They did not offer to take their quarters 
with us ; so, with many blessings, and as 
many adieus, they marched off. 

I have given thee the most material 
occurrences of yesterday faithfully. 

Fourth Dayy September 2^th^ 

This day, till twelve o'clock, the road 
was mighty quiet, when Hobson Jones 
came riding along. About that time he 
made a stop at our door, and said the 
British w^ere at Skippack road ; that we 
should soon see their light horse, and 
[that] a party of Hessians had actually 
turn'd into our lane. My Dadda and 
Mamma gave it the credit it deserved, 

1 This date, presuming the day of the week to be accurately 
given, should be the 24th, and it may be here observed that the 
dates of the month are not for some time correctly given in the 
Journal, being a while one day ahead, and then two days, until 
December 5th, when they become correct. — H. M. J. 



68 Journal of [Sept. 25 

for he does not keep strictly to the 
truth in all respects ; but the delicate, 
chicken-hearted Liddy^ and I were wretch- 
edly scar'd. We cou'd say nothing but 
" Oh ! what shall we do ? What will 
become of us ? " These questions only 
augmented the terror we were in. 

Well, the fright went off. We saw no 
light horse or Hessians. O. Foulke^ 
came here in the evening, and told us 
that Gen'l Washington had come down 
as far as the Trappe, and that Gen'l 
McDougle's brigade was stationed at 
Montgomery, consisting of about i6 
hundred men. This he had from Dr. 
Edwards," Lord Stirling's aid-de-camp ; 

^ Lydia Foulke, daughter of William and Hannah, born April 
9, 1756. She afterward married'John Spencer, born 1756, died 
1799, son of Jacob and Hannah, of Moreland. — H. M. J. 

2 Owen Foulke, son of Caleb and jane (Jones) Foulke, was 
born in Philadelphia, June 27th, 1763, died at Gwynedd, August 
30, 1808. He was afterwards a partner with his father in 
business in Philadelphia, and in 1798 was a member of the First 
City Troop. In the late years of his life he practiced law at 
Sunbury, Pa. He was Sally's first cousin, their mothers being 
sisters. — H. M. J. 

^ Dr. Enoch Edwards, brother of Major Evan Edwards, was 



1777] Sally Wister 69 

so we expected to be in the midst of 
one army or t'other. 

Fourth Day Night. 

We were not alarm'd. 

Fifth Day, September 26th. 

We were unusually silent all the morn- 
ing ; no passengers came by the house, 
except to the Mill, & we don't place 
much dependence on Mill news. 

About twelve o'clock, cousin Jesse^ 
heard that Gen. Howe's army had moved 



born in Byberry, Philadelphia County, in 1750. He became an 
Ensign of the Pennsylvania Flying Camp, in 1776. He was a 

Justice of the Peace and 
practicing physician in 
Byberry until 1 792, when 
he sold his property there 
/ and moved to Frankford. 

In 1 79 1 he was commissioned an Associate Judge of the Court of 
Common Pleas of Philadelphia. He died April 25, 1802. — 
" Penna. in Rev.," III., 558 j Phila. Amer. Daily Ad., Apr. 
27, 1802; "Hist. Moreland " ; Martin's "Bench and Bar." 
^ Jesse Foulke, son of William and Hannah, and brother to 
Caleb and Amos. He was therefore a " connection by marriage," 
but not of kin, at all; the term "cousin" is purely compli- 
mentary. He was born Nov. 9, 1742, and died unmarried, 




yo Journal of [Sept. 26 

down towards Philadelphia. Then, my 
dear, our hopes & fears were engaged for 
you. However, my advice is, summon 
up all your resolution, call Fortitude to 
your aid, and don't suffer your spirits to 
sink, my dear ; there's nothing like 
courage ; 'tis what I stand in need of 
myself, but unfortunately have little of 
it in my composition. 

I was standing in the kitchen^ about 
12, when somebody came to me in a 
hurry, screaming, " Sally, Sally, here are 
the light horse ! " This was by far the 
greatest fright I had endured ; fear tack'd 
wings to my feet ; 1 was at the house 
in a moment ; at the porch I stopt, and 
it really was the light horse. 

I ran immediately to the western door, 
where the family were assembled, anxiously 
waiting for the event. They rode up to 

March i6, 1 821. He and his unmarried sister Priscilh con- 
tinued to occupy the old Foulke mansion, and lived to advanced 
years. — H. M. J. 

^ The kitchen was *' a sm.all distance from the house." See 
infra^ under date of June 5, 1778. 



.777] Sally Wister 71 

the door and halted, and enquired if we 
had horses to sell ; he was answer'd 
negatively. 

" Have not you, sir," to my father, 
" two black horses ? " 

" Yes, but have no mind to dispose 
of them." 

My terror had by this time nearly sub- 
sided. The officer and men behav'd 
perfectly civil ; the first drank two glasses 
of wine, rode away, bidding his men 
follow, which, after adieus in number, they 
did. The officer was Lieutenant Lindsay,^ 
of Bland's regiment, Lee's troop. The 
men, to our great joy, were Americans, 



1 William Lindsay, whose father, William Lindsay, had come 
from Jamaica and settled at Port Royal, Caroline Countv, 
Virginia, was appointed a Cornet in Colonel Bland's Regiment of 

Virginia Light Dragoons, June 
16, 1776. On the 1 8th of 
December of the same year 
4r g^ he was raised to the rank of 
Lieutenant. March 15, 1777, he became Third Lieutenant of the 
First Continental Dragoons. He received a wound near Valley 
Forge, January 21, 1778. On the 7th of April following he 
was made Captain of Lee's Battalion of Light Dragoons. He 
resigned from the Army, October i, 1778. He lived for a time 



^^^^2^^^ 



72 Journal of [Sept. 26 

and but 4 in all. What made us imagine 
them British, they wore blue and red, 
which with us is not common. 

It has rained all this afternoon, and to 
present appearances, will all night. In 
all probability the English will take pos- 
session of the city to-morrow or next 
day. What a change will it be ! May 
the Almighty take you under His pro- 
tection, for without His divine aid all 
human assistance is vain. 

** May heaven's guardian arm protect my absent friends. 
From danger guard them, and from want defend." 

Forgive my dear, the repetition of these 
lines, but they just darted into my mind. 

near Fredericksburg, but having received the first appointment to 
the office of Collector of" the Customs for Norfolk and Portsmouth 
under the Federal government, he removed with his family to the 
latter place. He died September i, 1797, while on a trip to 
Newport, Rhode Island, and was buried there in Trinity 
churchyard. By his wife, Martha Fox, he had several children, 
of whom Colonel William Lindsay was a prominent officer of the 
United States Army. — Bland MSS., Cong. Lib., Wash. ; 
Heitman ; "Lindsay Genealogy," 225 (Albany, 1889); Norfolk 
Herald^ Sept. 29, 1838 ; Columbian Sentinel (Boston), 
September 13, 1797. 



1777] Sally Wister 73 

Nothing worth relating has occurred 
this afternoon. Now for trifles. I have 
set a stocking on the needles, and intend 
to be mighty industrious. This evening 
some of our folks heard a very heavy 
cannon. We supposed it to be fir'd by 
the English. The report seem'd to come 
from Philad^ We hear the American 
army will be within five miles of us to- 
night. 

The uncertainty of our position en- 
grosses me quite. Perhaps to be in the 
midst of war, and ruin, and the clang of 
arms. But we must hope the best. 



Here, my dear, passes an interval of 
several weeks, in which nothing happen'd 
worth the time and paper it wou'd take 
to write it.^ The English, however, in 

^ We are unfortunately given nothing in relation to the 
Battle of Germantown, which occurred October 4th, in this inter- 
val. The omission is difficult to understand, becauses she alludes, 
later, to "the battle of Germantown, and the horrors of that 
day."— H. M. J. 



74 Journal of [Oct. 19 

the interim, had taken possession of the 

city. 

Second Day, October the igth, I'J'J'J. 

Now for new and uncommon scenes. 
As I was lying in bed, and ruminating on 
past and present events, and thinking 
how happy I shou'd be if I cou'd see 
you, Liddy came running into the room, 
and said there was the greatest drumming, 
fifing, and ratthng of waggons that ever 
she had heard. What to make of this 
we were at a loss. We dress'd and down 
stairs in a hurry. Our wonder ceas'd. 

The British had left Germantown, and 
our Army was marching to take pos- 
session. It was the general opinion thar 
they wou'd evacuate the capital.^ Sister 



^ On this date the British withdrew from Germantown into 
Philadelphia, and the Americans moved down the Skippack Road, 
and the roads adjacent, to take a nearer position. Washington's 
headquarters, for some days, were at "James Morris's, on the 
Skippack road," and on the ad of November, at Whitemarsh, ar 
the Emlen mansion hereafter mentioned. It was the movement 
of troops down the Morris road, no doubt, — "half a mile away," 
— that Sally and her friends went to see. — H. M. J. 



1777] Sally Wister 75 

Betsy^ and myself, and G. E.^ went about 
half a mile from home, where we cou'd 
see the army pass. Thee will stare at my 
going, but no impropriety in my opine, 
or I wou'd not have gone. We made no 
great stay, but return'd with excellent 
appetites for our breakfast. 

Several officers call'd to get some re- 

^ Elizabeth Wister, Sally's sister, born February 27, 1764. 

2 George Emlen, son of George and Ann (Reckless) Emlen, 
was born in Philadelphia, February 25, 1741, and died November 
23, 1 812. He was married to Sarah Fishbourne, daughter of 

William and Mary (Talman) Fishbourne, at Pine Street Friends' 
Meeting, Philadelphia, February i, 1775. The Emlens had a 
country seat at Whitemarsh, fourteen miles north of the city. 
This estate was purchased by George Emlen, Sr. , a wealthy 
Ouaker merchant of Philadelphia, in 1745, and at his death, 
January 3, 1 776, it had come into possession of his widow, Ann 
iimlen, his son George Emlen, Jr., and the other heirs. The 
r.mlen mansion was used by General Washington as his head- 
qur.rters during the encampment of the Continental Army at 
Whitemarsh, in the late autumn of 1777, and it was here a few 
months later that Sally Wister visited and wrote part of the Journal. 
The house is still standing near Camp Hill Station on the Reading 
Railroad. It is now owned by the estate of the late Charles T. 
Aiman. — Phila. Deeds, G. 7, p. 359; Emlen family records. 



76 Journal of [Oct. 19 

freshment, but none of consequence till 
the afternoon. Cousin Prissa^ and myself 
were sitting at the door ; I in a green 
skirt, dark short gown, &c. Two genteel 
men of the military order rode up to the 
door : " Your servant, ladies," &c ; ask'd 
if they cou'd have quarters for Genl. 
Smallwood. Aunt Foulke thought she 
cou*d accommodate them as well as most 
of her neighbours, — said they could. 
One of the officers dismounted, and wrote 



SMALLWOOD S QUARTERS 



over the door, which secured us from 
straggling soldiers. After this he mounted 
his steed and rode away. 

When we were alone our dress and lips 
were put in order for conquest, and the 

^ Priscilla Foulke, daughter of William and Hannah, and 
sister of Caleb, Amos, and Jesse ; " Cousin" simply by courtesy, 
as she was not of kin to Sally. She was born Oct. 3, 1744, and 
died Jan. 25, 1821, unmarried. — H. M.J. 



1777] Sally Wister 77 

hopes of adventures gave brightness to 
each before passive countenance. 

Thee must be told of a Dr. Gould/ 
who, by accident, had made an acquaint- 
ance with my father, — a sensible, con- 
versible man, a Carolinian, — and had 
come to bid us adieu on his going to that 
state. Daddy had prevailed upon him 
to stay a day or two with us. 



^ David Gould, of Virginia, was appointed Hospital Surgeon in 
the Continental Line, September 8, 1777, and Senior Hospital 
Surgeon in Virginia, October 11, 1779. He died July 12, I 781, 
"while on his way to Philadelphia to settle his accounts." 
(Heitmanj *' American State Papers," xix., ~i). Our journalist 
thus notes his death, in the back part of the book containing her 
Journal : 

'^ j4ugust, lySl. And must I again trace with my pen an 
account of the death of another of our Northwales friends ? 
The worthy Dr. Gould : — the last scene of his life was clos'd at 
Hartford [Harford ?] in Maryland. Clos'd forever those lips, 
from which proceeded the most beautiful sentiments, cloath'd in 
the most elegant expressions. Silent forever that silver tongue, 
that charm' d the listening audience. Flown to happier regions 
that heart, where all the social virtues resided, where 
disappointment shall never enter. » 

** I hope 

"'The hand of friendship rais'd his languid head 
" 'And smooth'd the pillow of his dying bed.' " 



78 Journal of [Oa. 19 

In the ev^ening his Generalships came 
with six attendants, which compos'd his 
family, a large guard of soldiers, a number 
of horses and baggage-waggons. The yard 
and house were in confusion, and glitter'd 
with military equipments. 

Gould was intimate with Smallwood, 
and had gone into Jesse's to see him. 
While he was there, there was great run- 
ning up and down stairs, so I had an 



'^^^<U^^ 




^ William Smallwood, son of Bayne and Priscilla (Heabard) 
Smallwood, was born in Maryland in 1732. His father was a 
merchant and planter, at one time presiding officer of the Court 

of Common Pleas, 
and also a member 
of the House of 
Burgesses; his 
mother was a native 
of Virginia. At an 
early age he was sent to school in England, where he finished his 
education. On January 2, 1776, he was made Colonel of the 
Maryland Battalion, and on July 10, with nine companies, he 
joined W^ashington in New York. His troops took an active 
part in the Battle of Brooklyn Heights, and at White Plains. 
At White Phins he was woundsd, and for his gallantry on the 
occasion Congress appointed him a Brigadier-General, October 23, 
1776. He was present at the Battles of Brandywine and German- 
town. At the latter place his Maryland troops retrieved the day, 
and captured part of the enemy's camp. During the winter of 



1777] Sally Wister 79 

opportunity of seeing and being seen, the 
former the most agreeable, to be sure. 
One person, in particular, attracted my 
notice. He appear'd cross and reserv'd ; 
but thee shall see how agreeably disap- 
pointed I was. 

Dr. Gould usher'd the gentlemen into 
our parlour, and introduced them, — 
" Gen'l Smallwood, Capt. Furnival, Major 



1777-1778 he was stationed at Wilmington, Delaware. He won 
new laurels in the southern campaign, and received the thanks of 
Congress. In September, 1780, he was given the rank of 
Major-General, and remained in the army until the close of the 
war. In 1 785, he was elected to Congress, but in the same year 
was chosen Governor of Maryland, and served in the latter office 
until 1 788. He then retired to his plantation called *'Matta woman," 
on the Potomac, in Charles County, and resided there during the 
remainder of his life. The registers of Durham Parish show that 
he took an active part in the vestry meetings. In 1 791 his sub- 
scription to the Vestry was estimated on three thousand pounds of 
tobacco, the largest crop in the parish. He died unmarried, 
February 14, 1792, and is buried on his plantation; his estate 
passed to collateral heirs. His old Colonial homestead, built of 
brick, still stands upon a high promontor}' on the shore of the 
Potomac. On July 4, 1898, the Sons of the American Revo- 
lution erected there a granite monument to his memory. — Nat. 
Cyc. of Amer. Bio., IX., 292; Heitman ; Md. Journal and 
Bait. Ad'uertiser, Feb. 21, 1792. 



8o Journal of [Oct. 19 

Stodard, Mr. Prig, Capt. Finley/ and 
Mr. Clagan/ Col. Wood, and Col. Line." 
These last two did not come with the 
Gen'l. They are Virginians, and both 
indispos'd. The Gen'l and suite are 
Mary landers. 



i 



^ _ 1 Ebenezer Finley, of Maryland, 

^^T^ ^ ^ was made Captain of Maryland 
CreyT^'^*'^^^ Artiller)', July 4, 1777. This 
^ company formed part of the First 

Continental Artillery, May 30, 1778. In June, 1780, Captain 
Finley became Department Judge Advocate of the Southern 
Department, and continued in that office until the close of the 
war. — Heitman. 

2 Horatio Clagett, or Claggett, son of Thomas Clagett, 
of *' Piscataway," St. George's County, Maryland, served as 
Ensign of the Third Battalion Maryland Flying Camp, from July to 

December, 1776. 
/y ^ ^^^ jfyS I^s became First 

/VC^-y ^6^:^^^^^^^^ Lieutenant of the 
^^ * third Maryland regi- 

ment, December 10, 
1776, and Captain, October 10, 1777. He was transferred to the 
Fifth Maryland, January 1, 1781, and to the Third Maryland, 
January 2, 1783. He was retained in the Maryland Battalion, 
April, 1783, and on the 30th of September was given the rank 
of Brevet-Major. His service in the army continued until 
November 3, 1783. After the war he went to London, England, 
married and died there. — Heitman ; W. W. Bowie, " Bowies 
and Their Kindred " (W^ashington, D. C, 1899), 399. 



1777] Sally Wister 8i 

Be assur'd I did not stay long with so 
many men, but secur'd a good retreat, 
heart-safe, so far. Some sup'd with us, 
others at Jesse's. They retir'd about ten, 
in good order. 

How new is our situation ! I feel in 
good spirits, though surrounded by an 
Army, the house full of officers, the yard 
alive with soldiers, — very peaceable sort 
of men, tho'. They eat like other folks, 
talk like them, and behave themselves 
with elegance ; so I will not be afraid of 
them, that I won't. 

Adieu. I am going to my chamber to 
dream, I suppose, of bayonets and swords, 
sashes, guns, and epaulets. 

Third Dny Morn., October 20th. 

I dare say thee is impatient to know 
my sentiments of the officers ; so, while 
Somnus embraces them, and the house is 
still, take their characters according to 
their rank. 

The General is tall, portly, well made : 
a truly martial air, the behaviour and 



82 



Journal of [Oc 



manner of a gentleman, a good under- 
standing, & great humanity of disposition, 
constitute the character of Smallwood. 
Col. Wood,^ from what we hear of him 
and what we see, is one of the most 
amiable of men ; tall and genteel, an 
agreeable countenance and deportment. 
These following lines will more fully 
characterize him : 

*' How skill' d he is in each obliging art. 

The mildest manners with the bravest heart." 

The cause he is fighting for alone tears 



^ James Wood, born in 1750, was a son of Colonel James 
Wood, founder of Winchester, Virginia. In 1774 the son was 




ofc^iiSjid ^/^o o c6 . ^\ 



commissioned by Lord Dunmore a Captain of Virginia troops, and 
in 1775 he was elected to the House of Burgesses from Frederick 
County, Virginia. In 1776 he was appointed by the House of 
Burgesses to serve as Colonel of the Twelfth, afterward called the 
Eighth, Regiment of the Virginia Line, and served until January i, 
1783. In 1783 he was commissioned a Brigadier-General. He 
was elected Governor of Virginia in 1796. He died at Olney, 
near Richmond, Virginia, July 1 6, 181 3. — Heitman ; Appleton's 
'' Cyc. of Biog." 




General William Smallwoocl 



1777] Sally Wister 83 

him from the society of an amiable wife 
and engaging daughter ; with tears in his 
eyes he often mentions the sweets of 
domestic life. 

Col. Line^ is not married ; so let me 
not be too warm in his praise, lest you 
suspect. He is monstrous tall & brown, 
but has a certain something in his face 
and conversation very agreeable ; he enter- 
tains the highest notions of honour, is 
sensible and humane, and a brave officer ; 
he is only seven and twenty years old, 
but, by a long indisposition and constant 
fatigue, looks vastly older, and almost 
worn to a skeleton, but very lively and 
talkative. 

1 George Lyne, of King and Queen County, Virginia, 
represented his county in the Virginia Assembly in 1775. He 
received the appointment of Captain of the Virginia State Forces, 
March 8, 1776} Major of the Thirteenth Virginia Regiment, 
November 12, of the same year; Lieutenant-Colonel of the Ninth 
Virginia Regiment, September 28, 1777. He resigned from the 
Army November 14, 1777, and entered the Virginia House of 
Burgesses, where he continued until 1780. He also served as a 
member of the Board of War. — Heitman ; Journal House of 
Delegates, Virginia, 1833, Doc. No. 31; Stanard, Virginia 
Register ^ 199. 



84 Journal of [Oa. 20 

Capt. Furnival/ — I need not say more 
of him than that he has, excepting one 
or two, the handsomest face I ever saw, 
a very fine person ; fine hght hair and 
a great deal of it, adds to the beauty of 
his face. 

Well, here comes the glory, the Major, 
so bashful, so famous, &c. He shou'd 
come before the Captain, but never mind. 
I at first thought the Major cross and 
proud, but I was mistaken. He is about 
nineteen, nephew to the Gen'l, and acts 
as Major of brigade to him ; he cannot 

^ Alexander Furnival, of Baltimore, Maryland, born about 
1752., was made Second Lieutenant of Smith's Independent 




VyiVh^^n^^ 



oA/ 



was 



Company of Maryland Artillery, January 14, 1776. Later he 
raised to the rank of Captain. He retired from the Army in July, 
1779. In 1793 he was Postmaster of Baltimore. He died 
September 14, 1807, at Harmony, Baltimore County, Maryland, 
in his 55th year ; "for many years a respectable inhabitant of this 
city." — Federal Gazette and Baltimore Ad'vertiser, Sept. 1 7, 
18075 Heitman 5 Maryland Journal, November 25, 1793. 





Major William Truman Stodder 



1777] Sally Wister 85 

be extoll'd for the graces of person, but 
for those of the mind he may justly be 
celebrated ; he is large in his person, 
manly, and an engaging countenance and 
address.^ 



^ William Truman Stoddert, son of John Truman and Lucy 
Heabard (Smallwood) Stoddert, was born in 1759, probably on his 
father's part of the plantation of " Southampton Enlarged," 
on Pomunkey Creek, Charles County, Maryland. His great-grand- 
father, James Stoddert, a wealthy planter of "Southampton," 
Prince George County, who is said to have emigrated from Scotland 
to Maryland in the latter part of the seventeenth century, made 
his will (Upper Marlboro, Md., Liber i, page 153) March 29, 
1726 (Probated May 31, 1726), leaving to his son John Stoddert 
a plantation on Smith's Point. 

John Stoddert, born in 1704, and died October 20, 1730, 
aged 42 years, was married prior to 1730 to Marianna Truman 
Greenfield, daughter of Thomas Truman Greenfield, of Trent 
Hall, St. Mary's County, Maryland, by his wife Susanna Chesel- 
dine, daughter of Kenelm Cheseldine and his wife Mary Gerard, 
daughter of Thomas Gerard, of the noble family of Bromley. 
Thomas Truman Greenfield was a son of Thomas Greenfield, of 
Prince George County (a native, as he states in his will, dated 
1 71 5, of Gedling, England), by his wife Martha Truman. 

John Stoddert, of Charles County, died May 12, 1767, aged 
63 years, rich in lands and negroes. In his will (La Plata, Md , 
A. D. 5, page 364), dated May 6 and probated May 18, 1767, 
he directs that he be buried beside his deceased wife, " in my own 
burying Ground without the least shew of pomp or Grandeure more 
than the presence of a few of my neighbours decently attending my 
Corpse to its place of Interement and their witnessing its being 



86 Journal of [Oct. 20 

Finley is wretched ugly, but he went 

away last night, so shall not particularize 
him. 

Nothing of any moment to-day ; no 

acquaintance with the officers. Col. Wood 

and Line and Gould din'd with us. I 



Covered with Clay, a Glass of wine may be asked them to Drink 
without any other Expence. This also my Desire that none of my 
Children put themselves into a mourning Dress for m.y Deathe. 
He leaves to his grandson, William Truman Stoddert, son of his 
deceased son, John Truman Stoddert, one half of plantation " I 
now live on," called *' South Hampton Enlarged," 500 acres of 
which ' ' I posse** his father John Truman Stoddert with but never 
Confirmed to him." 

John Truman Stoddert, son of John and Marianna Stoddert, 
and first cousin of Benjamin Stoddert, first Secretary of the Navy, 
was born July 18, 1732 (Register of St. John's Parish, Prince 
George County). His wife was Lucy Heabard Smallwood, 
daughter of Bayne and PriscUla (Heabard) Smallwood, and sister 
of General William Smallwood of the Revolutionary War. She 
made her will (La Plata, Md., A. E. 6, page 35), November 2, 
1767 (Probated October 22, 1768), and bequeathed her estate to 
her only child, W^illiam Truman Stoddert, appointing her father, 
Bayne Smallwood, executor. She mentions her sisters, Eleanor 
and Priscilla Smallwood, Elizabeth Leiper, and Margaret Stoddert. 

William Truman Stoddert, thus left an orphan at the age of 
nine years, was probably brought up in the family of his grand- 
father, Bayne Smallwood. He attended Philadelphia College, now 
tlie University of Pennsylvania, but did not remain to complete 
the course, leaving the institution in 1776, at the age of seventeen 
as his son states, to enter the ranks of the patriot army. He 






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s-v'i-;' 



6^ 



■^ 



" 1 he Major." — 1. 

Photographed from the original manuscript. 



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'The Major."— II. 



1777] Sally Wister 87 

was dressed in my chintz, and look'd 
smarter than night before. 

Fourth-Day^ Oct. 2ist. 

I just now met the Major, very 
reserv'd ; nothing but " Good morning," 



received the appointment of Ensign of the Fifth Maryland Regi- 
ment, December lo, 1776. From the early summer of 1777 to 
May, 1779, although not regularly appointed by the State, he 
acted as Major of Brigade to his uncle, General William Small- 
wood, participating in the principal battles of the period. In May, 
1779, in the re-arrangement of the Maryland Line, Major Stoddert 
was regularly appointed First Lieutenant of the Fifth Regiment, 
General Washington, in a letter dated May 28, 1779, ^° Governor 
Johnson of Maryland, stating that " Mr. Stoddert for near Two 
years [has acted] as a Brigade Major to General Smallwood." 
(Md. Archives, XXL, 430, 468, 469.) 

Under date of January 4, 1780, Sally "Wister notes that " the 
worthy Stodard is much indisposed at his home in " Maryland. 

On January i, 1781, he was transferred to the Fourth Maryland 
Regiment, in which he served until his retirement, January i, 
1783. (Ibid., XVIIL, 5225 Heitman.) 

He was married to Sally Massey, daughter of Rev. Lee Massey, 
of Fairfax County, Virginia, for many years minister at General 
Washington's place of worship, Pohick Church, near Mount 
Vernon, and lived the life of a well-to-do Maryland planter 
on his estate called *' Simpson " at Smith's Point, on the Potomac, 
in Charles County. His fondness for the hunt is attested by a 
curious relic that has descended to his great-grandson, Mr. Gustavus 
Truman Brown, of Washington, D. C. This is an old hunting 
horn, encircled by silver bands, one of which bears the legend : 



88 Journal of £Oct. 21 

or "Your servant, madam'*; but Furnival 
is most agreeable ; he chats every oppor- 
tunity ; but luckily has a wife ! 

I have heard strange things of the 
Major. Worth a fortune of thirty thous- 
and pounds, independent of anybody ; 



''Major Willi "^ T. Stoddert Durha Hunt from his friend Wal^ 
Stone. 

The registers of Durham Parish show that he was an active 
member of the vestry, and from 1787 until the time of his 
death made annual contributions of tobacco for the support of 
the church. In 1791 the amount of his subscription was £t^ 7s. 
6d., his estimated crop of tobacco being 1000 pounds, which was 
ejcceeded in the parish only by that of his uncle General Smallwood, 
who had a crop of 3000 pounds. On April 25, 1 791, Major 
William T. Stoddert, General William Smallwood, and several 
other gentlemen, were appointed to act in the place of vestrymen 
to raise a subscription to repair the church and build a vestry house. 
The last reference to Major Stoddert in the registers is on June 3, 
1793, when report is made that a suliscription had been received 
from him. 

He died in 1793, his son records, "at the age of 34 from 
disease caused by the hardships of camp life," and was interred on 
his plantation of "Simpson." In his will (La Plata, Md., 
A. K. II, p. 173), dated April 5, 1789, probated August 17, 
1793, in which he states that he is "sick and weake in body," 
he leaves " my dwelling plantation commonly known by the name 
of Simpson lying on Potomack River at Smith's Point in 
Nanjemoy," one moiety of land called " Southampton Enlarged," 
and all other real and personal estate, in fee eimple, to his wife, 
Sally Stoddert, whom he makes his executor. His inventory, 



1777] Sally Wister 89 

the Major, moreover, is vastly bashful ; 
so much so he can hardly look at the 
ladies. (Excuse me, good sir ; I really 
thought you were not clever ; if 'tis 
bashfulness only, we will drive that away.) 
Fifth-day, Sixth-day, and Seventh-day 
pass'd. The Gen'l still here ; the Major 
still bashful. 

First- Day Eveiiifig. 

Prepare to hear amazing things. The 
Gen'l was invited to dine, was engag'd ; 
but Col. Wood and Line, Maj'' Stodard, 
and Dr. Edwards din'd with us. 

In the afternoon, Stodard, addressing 
himself to mamma, " Pray, ma'am, do 

dated October 24, 1793, shows that he owned thirty-two slaves, 
of which seventeen were at "Smith's Point" and fifteen at 
" Pomunkey Quarter." 

His only child, Major John Truman Stoddert, who was 
educated at Princeton and represented Maryland in Congress, lived 
at "Wicomico House," on the estate of West Hatton, Charles 
County, where he died July ig, 1870, leaving several children, of 
whom one is Mrs. Elizabeth Stoddert Bowie, the present possessor 
of West Hatton, and widow of Robert Bowie, son of Governor 
Bowie, of Maryland. 



90 Journal of [Oct. 25 

you know Miss Nancy Bond^ ? " I told 
him of the amiable girl's death. This 
major had been to Philad"^ College.-^ 

In the evening, I was diverting Johnny" 
at the table, when he drew his chair to it, 
and began to play with the child. I 
ask'd him if he knew N. Bond. " No, 
ma'am, but I have seen her very often." 
One word brought on another, and we 
chatted the greatest part of the evening. 



^ Nancy Bond. — " On Monday morning [September 9, 1776] 
died, and yesterday was interred in Christ-Church Burying-ground, 
Miss Nancy Bond, second daughter of Dr. Phineas Bond, 
deceased. She had just compleated her 19th year, and possessed so 
many amiable qualities, both natural and acquired, that she was 
truly dear to all her acquaintance, and peculiarly the delight of her 
nearest relatives in her private and domestic life." — Penmyl'vauia 
Ga-zctte, September 18, 1776. 

'^ Now the University of Pennsylvania. 

•*JoHN WiSTER, Sally's infant brother, was born March 20, 
1776, and died December 12, 1862. He was married in 1798 to 
Elizabeth Harvey, of Bordentown, New Jersey, and resided at his 




^^'^ 



seat '* Vernon," in Germantown. — Wister, " Memoir of Charles 
J. Wister" ; Glenn, " Merion," 277. 



1777] Sally Wister 91 

He said he knew me directly he saw me. 
Told me exactly where we liv'd. It rains 
now, so adieu. 

Second-Day y 26th October. 

A very rainy morning, so like to prove. 
The officers in the house all day. 

Second- Day Afternoon . 

The General and officers drank tea 
with us, and stay'd part of the evening. 
After supper I went into aunt's where 
sat the Gen'l, Col. Line, and Major 
Stodard. So Liddy and I seated our- 
selves at the table in order to read a 
verse-book. 

The Major was holding a candle for 
the Gen'l, who was reading a newspaper. 
He look'd at us, turn'd away his eyes, 
look'd again, put the candlestick down, 
up he jump'd, out of the door he went. 

" Well," said I to Liddy, " he will join 
us when he comes in." 

Presently he return'd, and seated him- 
self on the table. 



92 Journal of [Oct. 26 

" Pray, ladies, is there any songs in 
that book ? " 

" Yes, many." 

"Can't you fav"" me with a sight of it?" 

" No, Major, 'tis a borrow'd book." 

" Miss Sally, can't you sing ? " 

" No." 

Thee may be sure I told the truth 
there. Liddy, saucy girl, told him I 
cou'd. He beg'd and I deny'd ; for my 
voice is not much better than the voice 
of a raven. We talk'd and laugh'd for 
an hour. He is very clever, amiable, 
and polite. He has the softest voice, 
never pronounces the R at all. 

I must tell thee, to-day arriv'd Col. 
Guest^ and Major Letherberry ; the 



1 MoRDECAi Gist, son of Captain Thomas and Susan (Cockey) 
Gist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1748. He was 
educated at St. Paul's Parish School, Baltimore County, and at 

the outbreak of the 
Revolution was a mer- 
chant doing business on 
^^ ^ Gay Street. At the be- 

^■^ \...,^^^y ginning of the War the 

young men of Baltimore 
formed the Baltimore Independent Company, and in July, 1776, 



^^^^^ 



1777] Sally Wister 93 

former a smart widower, the latter a 
lawyer, a sensible young fellow, and will 
never swing for want of tongue. 

Dr. Diggs^ came Second-day ; a mighty 
disagreeable man. We were oblig'd to 
ask him to tea. He must needs prop 
himself between the Major and me, for 
which I did not thank him. After I had 
drank tea, I jump'd from the table, and 
seated myself at the fire. The M 



elected Gist Captain. He had command of this company until 
January 14, 1776, when he was appointed Major of a battalion in 
Smallwood's Maryland Regiment. December 10, 1776, he was 
made Colonel of the Third Maryland Regiment. In January, 
1779, Congress appointed him a Brigadier-General in the 
Continental Army, and he took command of the Second Marj'land 
Brigade and served to the close of the War. After the Revolution 
he resided upon a plantation near Charleston, South Carolina, in 
which city he died, September 12, 1 792, and was buried in Old 
St. Michael's churchyard. 



CDO^-t^UjOS 



^ This is doubtless Cole 
Diggs, of King William 

County, Virginia (son of C^ (/ 

William Diggs, of Denbigh), who became Cornet of the First 
Regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, December 6, 1776, and 
Lieutenant, April 7, 1778. He resigned May 4, 1778. — 
Bland MSS., Cong. Lib., Wash. ; MSS. of the Revolution, 
State Lib., Richmond, Va. ; Va. Cal. State Papers, VIIL, 164; 
Heitman ; William and Mary i^iart., I., 19. 



94 Journal of [Oct. 27 

followed my example, drew his chair 
close to mine, and entertain'd me very 
agreeably. 

Oh, Debby ; I have a thousand things 
to tell thee. I shall give thee so droll 
an account of my adventures that thee 
will smile. "No occasion of that, Sally," 
methinks I hear thee say, "for thee tells 
me every trifle." But, child, thee is 
mistaken, for I have not told thee half 
the civil things that are said of us 
sweet creatures at " General Smallwood's 
Quarters." I think I might have sent 
the gentlemen to their chambers. I made 
my adieus, and home I went. 

Third Day Morn. 

A pohte " Good morning " from the 

M , more sociable than ever. No 

wonder ; a stoic cou'd not resist such 
affable damsels as we are. 

Third Day Eve., October 27th. 

We had again the pleasure of the 
Gen'l and suite at afternoon tea. He 




Colonel Mordecai Gist 



1777] Sally Wister 95 

(the Gen'l, I mean) is most agreeable ; 
so lively, so free, and chats so gaily, that 
I have quite an esteem for him. I must 
steel my heart ! Capt. Furnival is gone 
to Baltimore, the residence of his belov'd 
wife. 

The Major and I had a little chat to 
ourselves this eve. No harm, I assure 
thee : he and I are friends. 

This eve came a parson belonging to 
the Army. He is (how shall I describe 
him .?) near seven foot high, thin and 
meagre, not a single personal charm, and 
very few mental ones. He fell violently 
in love with Liddy at first sight ; the 
first discovered conquest that has been 
made since the arrival of the Gen'l. 

Come, shall we chat about Col. Guest ? 
He's very pretty ; a charming person ; 
his eyes are exceptional ; very stern ; and 
he so rolls them about that mine always 
fall under them. He bears the character 
of a brave officer ; another admirer of 
Liddy's, and she is of him. 

When will Sally's admirers appear ? 



96 Journal of [Oct. 28 

Ah ! that indeed. Why, Sally has not 
charms sufficient to pierce the heart of a 
soldier. But still I won't despair. Who 
knows what mischief I yet may do ? 

Well, Debby, here's Dr. Edwards come 
again. Now we shall not want clack ; for 
he has a perpetual motion in his head, 
and if he was not so clever as he is, we 
shou'd get tired. 

Fourth Day, October 28th. 
Nothing material engag'd us to-day. 

Fifth Day, October 2Qth. 
I walk'd into aunt's this evening. I 
met the Major. Well, thee will think 
I am writing his history ; but not so. 
Pleased with the rencounter, Liddy, Betsy, 
Stodard, and myself, seated by the fire, 
chatted away an hour in lively and 
agreeable conversation. I can't pretend 
to write all he said ; but he shone in 
every subject that we talk'd of 

Sixth Day Eve, October joth. 
Nothing of consequence. 



1777] Sally Wister 97 

Sevefith Day^ October Jist. 

A most charming day. I walk'd to 
the door and received the salutation of 
the morn from Stodard and other officers. 
As often as I go to the door, so often 
have I seen the Major. We chat pass- 
ingly, as, " A fine day, Miss Sally." 
" Yes, very fine, Major." 

Seventh Day Night. 

Another very charming conversation 
with the young Marylander. He seem'd 
possessed of very amiable manners ; 
sensible and agreeable. He has by his 
unexceptionable deportment engag'd my 
esteem. 

First Day Mor?i. 

Liddy, Betsy, and a T. L., prisoner of 
this State, went to the Mill. We made 
very free with some Continental flour. 
We powder'd mighty white, to be sure. 
Home we came. 

Col. Wood was standing at a window 
with a young officer. He gave him a 



9^ Journal of [Nov. I 

push forward, as much as to say, " Observe 
what fine girls we have here." For all 
I do not mention Wood as often as he 
deserves, it is not that we are not sociable : 
we are very much so, and he is often at 
our house, dines or drinks tea with us 
every day. 

Liddy and I had a kind of an adven- 
ture with him this morn. We were in 
his chamber, chatting about our little 
affairs, and no idea of being interrupted : 
we were standing up, each an arm on a 
chest of drawers ; the door bang'd open ! 
— Col. Wood was in the room ; we 
started, the colour flew into our faces and 
crimson'd us over ; the tears flew into my 
eyes. It was very silly; but his coming 
was so abrupt. He was between us and 
the door. 

" Ladies, do not be scared, I only want 
something from my portmanteau ; I beg 
you not to be disturbed." 

We ran by him like two partridges, 
into mamma's room, threw ourselves into 
chairs, and reproach'd each other for being 



1777] Sally Wister 99 

so foolish as to blush and look so silly. 
I was very much vex'd at myself, so was 
Liddy. The Col. laugh'd at us, and it 
blew over. 

The Army had orders to march to- 
day; the regulars accordingly did. ^ Gen'l 
Smallwood had the command of Militia 
at that time, and they being in the 
rear, were not to leave their encampment 
until Second-day. 

Observe how militaryish I talk. No 
wonder, when I am surrounded by people 
of that order. 

The Gen'l, Colonels Wood, Line, 
Guest, Crawford, Majors Stodard and 
Letherberry, din'd with us to-day. After 
dinner Liddy, Betsy, and thy smart 
journalizer, put on their bonnets deter- 
mined to take a walk. 

We left the house. I naturally look'd 
back ; when, behold, the two majors 
seem'd debating whether to follow us or 
not. Liddy said, " We shall have their 
attendance " ; but I did not think so. 

^This was the movement to Whitemarsh. 

L.ctC. 



loo Journal of [Nov. i 

They open'd the gate, and came fast after 
us. They overtook us about ten pole 
from home, and beg'd leave to attend us. 
No fear of a refusal. 

They enquir'd where we were going. 
"To neighbour Roberts's. We will intro- 
duce you to his daughters ; you us to 
Gen'l Stevens." 

The affair was concluded, and we 
shortened the way with lively conversation. 

Our intention of going to Roberts's was 
frustrated ; the rain that had fall'n lately 
had rais'd Wissahickon too high to 
attempt crossing it on foot. We alter'd 
the plan of our ramble, left the road, and 
walk'd near two miles thro' the woods. 

M. Letherberry, observing my locket, 
repeated with the energy of a comedian — - 

*' On her white neck a sparkHng cross she wore. 
That Jews might kiss or infidels adore." 

I replied my trinket bore no resemblance 

to a cross. 

" 'Tis something better, ma'am." 
'Tis nonsense to pretend to recount 



1777] Sally Wister loi 

all that was said ; my memory is not so 
obliging ; but it is sufficient that nothing 
happen'd during our httle excursion but 
what was very agreeable and entirely 
consistent with the strictest rules of polite- 
ness & decorum. 

I was vex'd a little at tearing my 
musUn petticoat. I had on my white 
whim, quite as nice as a First-day in town. 
We returned home safe. 

Smallwood, Wood, and Stodard drank 
tea with us, and spent the greatest part 
of the evening. 

I declare this Genl is very, very enter- 
taining, so good natur'd, so good humour'd, 
yet so sensible ; I wonder he is not 
married. Are there no ladies form'd to 
his taste ? 

Some people, my dear, think that 
there's no difference between good nature 
and good humour ; but, according to my 
opinion, they differ widely. Good nature 
consists in a naturally amiable and even 
disposition, free from all peevishness and 
fretting. It is accompanied by a natural 



I02 Journal of [Nov. i 

gracefulness, — a manner of doing and 
saying everything agreeably ; in short, it 
steals the senses and captivates the heart. 
Good humour consists in being pleas'd, 
and who wou'd thank a person for being 
cheerful, if they had nothing to make 
them otherways. Good humour is a very 
agreeable companion for an afternoon ; 
but give me good nature for life. 
Adieu. 



SecoTid Day Morn, November ist} 

To-day the Militia marches, and the 
Gen'l and officers leave us. Heigh ho ! 
I am very sorry ; for when you have been 
with agreeable people, 'tis impossible not 
to feel regret when they bid you adieu, 
perhaps forever. When they leave us 
we shall be immur'd in solitude. 

The Major looks dull. 



^Second day — Monday — was November 3d. The dates here 
are two days wrong, and as the reader may perceive for himself, 
are inconsistent with those heretofore given, which were one day 
wrong. — H. M. J. 



,777] Sally Wister 103 

Second Day Noon. 
About two o'clock the Gen. and Major 
came to bid us adieu. With daddy and 
mammy they shook hands very friendly; 
to us they bow'd poHtely. 

Our hearts were full. I thought Major 
was affected. 

" Good-bye, Miss Sally," spoken very 

low. He walk'd hastily and mounted his 

horse. They promised to visit us soon. 

We stood at the door to take a last 

look, all of us very sober. 

The Major turn'd his horse's head, 
and rode back, dismounted. 

" I have forgot my pistols," pass'd us, 
and ran upstairs. 

He came swiftly back to us, as if wish- 
ing, through inclination, to stay ; by duty 
compell'd to go. He remounted his horse. 
" Farewell, ladies, till I see you again," 
and canter' d away. 

We look'd at him till the turn in the 
road hid him from our sight. "Amiable 
major," " Clever fellow," " Good young 
man," was echo'd from one to the other. 



I04 Journal of [Nov. i 

I wonder whether we shall ever see him 
again. He has our wishes for his safety. 
Well, here's Uncle Miles.^ Heartily 
glad of that am I. His family are well, 
and at Reading. 

Second Day Even. 

Jesse, who went with the Gen'l, 
return'd. I had by him a letter from my. 



1 Samuel Miles, as he records in his autobiography, was born 
of Welsh ancestry, March ii, 1739, '" Whitemarsh, 
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In his sixteenth year he 




joined a company of militia and took part in the defence of 
Northampton County against the depredations of hostile Indians. 
In 1758 he accompanied the expedition against Fort DuQuesne, 
and in 1760 was advanced to the command of a company. At 
the close of the war, he was married, February 16, 1761, to 
Catharine Wister, daughter of John Wister, the emigrant. He 
located in Philadelphia, where, he says, he engaged " principally 
in the rum and wine trade, but part of the time in the dry goods 
business also." In 1766 he became a warden and three years 
later a commissioner of the city. He was elected a member of 
Assembly in 1772, and in 1775. I" ^774 he removed to 
Montgomery County, having purchased a plantation near Spring 




Colonel Samuel Miles 



i-i-jil Sally Wister 105 

dear Polly Fishbourn/ She is at George 
Emlen's. Headquarters is at their house. 
We had compliments from the Gen'l and 
Major. They are very well disposed of 
at Evan Meredith's, six miles from here. 



Mills. He served as a member of the Council of Safety until 
the spring of 1776, when he took command of a regiment 
formed in Montgomery county. At the battle of Long Island he 
bore himself v.'ith gallantry, but was made a prisoner. During his 
imprisonment he was appointed a Brigadier-General by the 
Pennsylvania Council of Safety, but on his release he says, *' As 
I could not obtain in the army the rank that my appointment of 
December, 1776, entitled me to, I remained upon my farm." 
In 1778 he was appointed Auditor of Public Accounts, and later 
became Quartermaster-General of Pennsylvania, serving until 1782. 
He then retired from the service, and engaged in sugar refining. 
He was made a judge of the High Court of Errors and Appeals in 
1783; a member of the Council of Censors of Philadelphia in 
17875 a member of the Executive Council of the city in 1788 
and 1790 ; an alderman in 1789 ; and Mayor of Philadelphia in 
1790. In 1793 he removed with his family to a farm in 
Cheltenham, Montgomery County, where he died December 29, 
1805. He owned much land in Centre County, and laid out the 
town of Milesburg. His autobiography (printed in American 
Historical Record, II., 49-53, I14-118) and other manuscripts 
are in possession of F. Potts Green, Esq., of Bellefonte, Pa, 

^MarvFishbourne, j^ y /r-^ ^ ^ 
daughter of William (^C^U J^ ^<^^V^<X/r^^-> 

and Mary (Talman) • 

Fishbourne, was born in Philadelphia, February 9, 1760, and died 

there, September 21, 1842. She was married January 3, 1787, 



Io6 Journal of [Nov. 2 

I wrote to Polly by Uncle Miles, who 
waited upon Gen'l Washington next morn. 



Third Day Morn, November 2d. 

It seems strange not to see our house 
as it used to be. We are very still. No 
rattling of waggons, glittering of musquets. 
The beating of the distant drum is all we 
hear. 

Cols. Wood, Line, Guest and M. 
Letherberry are still here ; the two last 



by Friends' ceremony to Dr. Samuel Powell Griffitts, a 
distinguished physician of Philadelphia, son of William and Abigail 
(Powell) Griffitts. Dr. Griffitts was graduated from the 
University of Pennsylvania with the degree of A.B., in 17805 
and the degree of M.D., in 1 781. He then proceeded to 
Europe and studied medicine in Paris, London and Edinburgh. 
From 1 79 1 to 1796 he held the chair of Materia Medica in the 
University of Pennsylvania. He was born July 21, 1759, ""'^ 
died May 12, 1826. 

Susanna Dillwyn, of Burlington, in writing to her father 
William Dillwyn, then in London, under date of Nov. 23, 1786, 
says : "It is said that Doctor Griffitts will go to the next monthly 
meeting with Polly Fishbourne, sister to George Emlen's wife — 
who it was thought he addressed before he went to Europe." 
And later, March 13, 1787, she writes : " I believe I told thee 
that Doctor Griffitts had or was to pass meeting— he was married 
about two months since to Polly Fishbourn, a very deserving 
young woman — few matches have met with such general 



1777] Sally Wister 107 

leave us to-day. Wood and Line will 
soon bid us adieu. Amiable Wood ; he is 
esteem'd by all that know him ! Every- 
body has a good word for him. 

Here I skip a week or two, nothing of 
consequence occurring. Wood & Line 
are gone. Some time since arriv'd two 
officers, Lieutenant Lee and Warring,^ 
Virginians. I had only the salutations 
of the morn from them. 

Lee is not remarkable one way or the 
other ; Warring an insignificant piece 
enough. Lee sings prettily, and talks a 
great deal ; how good turkey hash and 
fry'd hominy is — (a pretty discourse 
to entertain the ladies), — extols Virginia 
and execrates Maryland, which, by-the-by, 

approbation. The Doctor is highly esteem'd, and everybody 
seem'd pleased that he was likely to be happily settled — they live 
in Walnut street next to S. Lewis." — Dr. Robert C. Moon, 
** Morris Genealogy," 609-611 5 R. F. Stone, ''Physicians and 
Surgeons," 190— 191 ; Dillwyn MSS. 

' Henry Waring, of Virginia, became Ensign of the Seventh 
Virginia, March 5, 1776 5 Second Lieutenant, October 10 of the 
same year 5 First Lieutenant, October 10, 1777; was transferred 
to Fifth Virginia, September 14, 1778 He resigned October 18, 
1779. — Heitman. 



I08 Journal of [Dec. 5 

I provok'd them to ; for though I admire 
both Virg^ and Mary^, I laugh'd at the 
former and prais'd the latter. Ridiculed 
their manner of speaking. I took great 
delight in teasing them. I believe I did 
it sometimes ill-natur'dly ; but I don't 
care. They were not, I am certain almost, 
first-rate gentlemen. (How different from 
our other officers.) But they are gone to 
Virginia, where they may sing, dance, and 
eat turkey hash and fry'd hominy all day 
long, if they choose. 

Nothing scarcely lowers a man in my 
opinion more than talking of eating, what 
they love and what they hate. Lee and 
Warring were proficients in this science. 
Enough of them ! 

December ^thy Sixth Day} 

Oh, gracious ! Debby, I am all alive 
with fear. The English have come out 
to attack (as we imagine) our army. They 
are on Chestnut Hill, our army three 

^ The dates are now accurate ; December 5 th fell on Sixth-day, 
Friday.— H M. J. 



1777] Sally Wister 109 

miles this side/ What will become of us, 
only six miles distant ? 

We are in hourly expectation of an 
engagement. I fear we shall be in the 
midst of it. Heaven defend us from so 
dreadful a sight. The battle of German- 
town, and the horrors of that day, are 
recent in my mind. It will be sufficiently 
dreadful if we are only in hearing of 
the firing, to think how many of our 
fellow -creatures are plung'd into the 
boundless ocean of eternity, few of them 
prepar'd to meet their fate. But they are 
summon'd before an all-merciful Judge, 
from whom they have a great deal to hope. 

Seventh Day^ December 6th. 
No firing this morn. I hope for one 
more quiet day. 

Seve?ith Day; 4 o'clock. 

I was much alarm'd just now, sitting in 
the parlour, indulging melancholy refiec- 

' This was Howe's famous demonstration against Washington's 
position at Whitemarsh, which was fully expected to be a general 
battle. The British left the city December 4th. — H. M. J. 



o 



Journal of [Dec. 6 



tions, when somebody burst open the 
door, " Sally, here's Major Stodard ! " 

I jumped. Our conjectures were various 
concerning his coming. The poor fellow, 
from great fatigue and want of rest, 
together with being expos'd to the night 
air, had caught cold, which brought on 
a fever. He cou'd scarcely walk, and I 
went into aunt's to see him. 

I was surpris'd. Instead of the lively, 
alert, blooming Stodard, who was on his 
feet the instant we enter'd, he look'd pale, 
thin, and dejected, too weak to rise. A 
bow, and " How are you. Miss Sally ^ " 

" How does thee do. Major ? " 

I seated myself near him, inquir'd the 
cause of his indisposition, ask'd for the 
Gen'l, receiv'd his compliments. Not 
willing to fatigue him with too much chat, 
I bid him adieu. 

To-night Aunt Hannah Foulke, Senr,^ 
administer'd something. Jesse assisted 
him to his chamber. He had not lain 

1 Hannah Foulke, widow of William. 



< 



3 a 




1777] Sally Wister m 

down five minutes before he was fast 
asleep. Adieu. I hope we shall enjoy 
a good night's rest. 

First Day Morn^ December yth. 

I trip'd into aunt's. There sat the 
Major, rather more like himself. How 
natural it was to see him. 

" Good morning, Miss Sally." 

" Good morrow. Major, how does thee 
do to-day ? " 

Major : " I feel quite recover'd." 

Sally: "Well, I fancy this indisposition 
has sav'd thy head this time." 

Major : " No, ma'am ; for if I hear a 
firing,^ I shall soon be with them." That 
was heroic. 

About eleven, I dress'd myself, silk 
and cotton gown. It is made without an 
apron. I feel quite awkwardish, and 
prefer the girlish dress. 

^ Though no firing seems to have been heard, it was on this day 
that two severe skirmishes occurred between the armies — one on 
Edge Hill, near Mooretown, and the other in Cheltenham, 
probably near Shoemakertown. There were a number killed, and 
many wounded. — H. M- J- 



112 Journal of [Dec. 7 

First Day Afternoon. 

A Mr. Seaton^ and Stodard drank tea 
with us. He and I had a httle private 
chat after tea. 

In the eve, Seaton went into aunt's ; 
mamma went to see Prissa, who is poorly ; 
papa withdrew to talk to some strangers. 
Liddy just then came in, so we engag'd in 
an agreeable conversation. 

I beg'd him to come and give us a 
circumstantial account of the battle, if 
there should be one. 

" I certainly will, ma'am, if I am 
favor'd with life." 

Liddy, unluckily, took it into her head 
to blunder out something about a person 
being in the kitchen who had come from 
the army. 

Stodard, ever anxious to hear, jump'd 
up. " Good night to you. Ladies,'* was 
the word, and he disappeared, but not 
forever. 



' Alexander Seaton, of Virginia, was appointed Regimental 
Quartermaster of Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment, May 
24, 1777, and resigned December 20, of the same year. — Heitman. 



1777] Sally Wister 113 

" Liddy, thee hussy ; what business 
had thee to mention a word of the army ? 
Thee sees it sent him off. Thy evil 
genius prevaiFd, and we all feel the effects 
of it." 

" Lord bless me," said Liddy, " I had 
not a thought of his going, or for ten 
thousand worlds I wou'd not have spoke." 
But we cannot recall the past. 

Well, we laughed and chatted at a noisy 
rate, till a summons for Liddy parted us. 
1 sat negligently on my chair, and thought 
brought on thought, and I got so low 
spirited that I cou'd hardly speak. The 
dread of an engagement, the dreadful 
situation (if a battle shou'd ensue) we 
should be in, join'd to my anxiety for 
P. Fishbourn and family,^ who would be 
in the midst of the scene, was the occasion. 

And yet I did not feel half so frighten'd 
as I expected to be. 'Tis amazing how 
we get reconciled to such things. Six 
months ago the bare idea of being within 

' The FisHBouRNEs, as mentioned later in the Journal, were 
living near Whiternarsh. 



114 Journal of [Dec. 7 

ten, aye twenty miles, of a battle, wou'd 
almost have distracted me. And now, 
tho' two such large armies are within six 
miles of us, we can be cheerful and con- 
verse calmly of it. It verifies the old 
proverb, that " Use is second nature.'* 
I forgot one little piece of intelligence, 
in which the girls say I discover'd a par- 
ticular partiality for our Marylanders, but 
I disclaim anything of the kind. These 
saucy creatures are forever finding out 
wonders, and forever metamorphosing 
mole-hills into mountains. 

** Friendship I offer, pure and free ; 
And who, with such a friend as ME, 
Could ask or wish for more ? ' ' 

"If they charg'd thee with vanity, 
Sally, it wou'd not be very unjust." 
Debby Norris^ ! be quiet ; no reflections, 

^Deborah Norris, daughter of Charles and Mary (Parker) 

Norris, and a descendant of Isaac Norris, Governor Thomas 

Lloyd, and other leading and distinguished men of the Quaker 

^-^ y^ ^ governing class, was born Octo- 

CW^ /Y/f^f'f^f/^ ^^"^ ^9. 1 76 1, in the Norris 

O^^ C/ f */ ' ^ mansion, on the site of the present 

Custom House, at Fifth and Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia. Her 



,777] Sally Wister ^^S 

or I have done. "But the piece of intel- 
hgence, Sally 1" [It] is just coming, 

Debby. . , u ^ 

In the afternoon we distinctly heard 
platoon firing. Everybody was at the 
door; I in the horrors. The armies, as 
we judg d, were engag'd. 

Very compos'dly says the Major to our 
servant, "Will you be kind enough to 
saddle my horse? I shall goT 

father having died when she was four years of age, she was 
carefully brought up by her mother, a Quakeress of much 
refinement and culture. She received her education at Anthony 
Benezet's School for Girls, and was so full of life and vivacity that 
the gentle Benezet was often perplexed to know how to curb the 
spirit of mischief in her; but it is said that when he appealed to 
her sense of honor he never failed to meet with a response. It 
.vas at school that she met Sally Wister, and formed that warm 
friendship of which we have evidence in their wnUngs. After 
leaving school she continued her studies at home, formmg habits 
of literary occupation that endured throughout her life, and made 
her one of the most accomplished and gifted women of the period 
She was about fifteen at the time the Declaration of 
Ir^dependence was read from the State House steps in the adjoining 
square, and she has left an interesting account of how she clan^bered 
upon the garden-fence and -distinctly heard the words of that 
instrument read to the people." 

To her mother's house came members of the Continental 
Congress and other important personages, and the duties that fell to 
her in aiding to receive these distinguished guests gave her an 



Il6 Journal of [Dec. 7 

Accordingly, the horse was taken from 
the hospitable quiet barn to plunge into 
the thickest ranks of war. Cruel change ! 

Seaton insisted to the Major that the 
armies were still; "nothing but skirmish- 
ing with the flanking parties; do not go." 

admirable training for the high social position that she occupied in 
later years. 

By the middle of the Revolutionary period, as we learn by the 
chronicles of the time, she had developed into a beautiful and 
cultivated woman. Anna Rawle, of Philadelphia, afterwards Mrs. 
John Clifford, in her diary, under date of February 28, 1 781, thus 
writes of her : " The widow Norris and her daughter were here 
to tea. The latter is a most charming girl ; for the united charms 
of mind and person I don't know such another. Doctor Logan 
will have a prize in her, — their intended marriage will much 
disappoint one of the same profession, by what I have heard." 

On September 20, 178 1, at the age of twenty, Deborah Norris 
was married to Dr. George Logan, a graduate in medicine from, 
the University of Edinburgh, in 1779, and but recently returned 
from study and travel in Europe. He was a son of William and 
Hannah (Emlen) Logan, and a grandson of James Logan, the 
trusted friend and agent of William Penn, and sometime Governtr 
of Pennsylvania. He was born at the old family seat, Stenton, 
near Germantown, September 9, 1753, and died April 9, 1821. 
Soon after their marriage he and his young bride took up theii 
residence at Stenton, and made that their home during the 
remainder of their lives. Dr. Logan engaged in farming his large 
estate, and also took a prominent part in political affairs, becoming 
a leader of the Anti-federal Party, and serving for several years as 
Senator from Pennsylvania. 



1777] Sally Wister 117 

We happen'd (we girls, I mean) to be 
standing in the kitchen, the Maj. passing 
thro' in a hurry, and I, forsooth, disco ver'd 
a strong partiaHty by saying, "Oh! Major, 
thee is not going!" 

He turned around, "Yes, I am. Miss 
Sally," bow'd, and went into the road ; 
we all pitied him. 



Of these early years of Mrs. Logan's married life we catch 
interesting glimpses in the letters of Susanna Dillvvyn, of 
Burlington, who writes to her father, William Dillwyn, then in 
London, under date of April 15, 1789 : 

" Debby Logan is generally allow' d to be a very fine woman as 
well as a very beautiful one — I have not seen her for a long while 
past, as she confines her whole attention to her family and seldom 
goes abroad." 

Again, a few months later, after a visit to the Logans, Miss 
Dillwyn writes, September 20, 1789 : 

" Debby Logan is acknowledged by every one who sees her, 
whether they have been used only to the women of our land, or 
the more highly-polished Europeans, to be one of the most 
compleatly beautiful and elegant women they have ever seen. She 
delighted me, I confess, so much that when we came away I 
could not find words to express the rapture with which I gazed at 
her." 

Here, at the picturesque and dignified old mansion of Stenton, 
the elegant and cultivated Mrs. Logan drew around her the most 
eminent and illustrious men and women of the then leading city of 
the young republic. Among these visitors were John Dickinson 5 
John Randolph, of Roanoke ; Timothy Pickering j the learned 



Il8 Journal of [Dec. 8 

The firing rather decreased; and after 
persuasions innumerable from my father 
and Seaton, and the firing over, he 
reluctantly agreed to stay. Ill as he was, 
he would have gone. It show'd his 
bravery, of which we all believe him 
possess'd of a large share. 

Seco7id Day, December 8th. 

Rejoice with us, my dear. The British 
have return'd to the city. Charming 

and witty Portuguese, Abbe Correa 5 Kosciusko ; the French 
minister, Genet ; Dr. Franklin ; Thomas JefFerson, and President 
Washington. 

She was deeply interested in, and had a special knowledge of, 
the history of Pennsylvania ; and it is to her careful collation and 
preservation of the great collection of Penn and Logan manuscripts 
that she found in the garret at Stenton, and to her memoranda and 
reminiscences of persons and events, that we owe much of our 
knowledge of Colonial history. Two volumes of the " Penn and 
Logan Correspondence," with her annotations, and one volume, 
her "Memoir of Dr. George Logan," have been published by 
the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 

Her death occurred February 2, 1839, at Stenton, where she 
was interred beside her husband in the family burial ground. In 
the words of her biographer, Mrs. Wister, in " Worthy Women 
of Our First Century," '' Her memory lives on as a tradition of 
charm and worth, a lovely impersonation of female excellence, a 
lady of the old scliool, a pure, ideal Quakeress." 



1777] Sally Wister 119 

news this.^ May we ever be thankful to 
the Almighty Disposer of events for his 
care and protection of us while surrounded 
with dangers. 

Major went to the army. Nothing for 
him to do ; so returned. 

Third- or Fourth-day, I forget which, 
he was very ill ; kept his chamber most 
of the day. In the evening I saw him. 
He has a violent sore mouth. I pity him 
mightily, but pity is a poor remedy. 

Fifth Dajy December nth. 

Our Army mov'd, as we thought, to 
go into winter quarters,^ but we hear there 

^ They reached Philadelphia on the evening of this day, 
plundering the farms between Edge Hill and the city as they 
marched in. — H. M. J. 

2 Early in the morning of this day, nth December, the camp at 
Whitemarsh was broken up, and the Americans marched 
(doubtless up the Skippack road to Broadaxe, and thence 
westward) to the ferry at Matson's Ford — now Conshohocken. 
The weather was cold, no snow had fallen, the roads were frozen, 
and those of the men who were barefoot left such crimson marks 
on the ground, that afterward Washington made the statement 
which has passed into history : " You might have tracked the 
army from Whitemarsh to Valley Forge by the blood of their 
feet."— H. M. J. 



I20 Journal of [Dec. II 

is a party of the enemy gone over Schuyl- 
kill ; so our Army went to look at them.^ 

I observ'd to Stodard, " So you are 
going to leave us to the English." 

" Yes, ha ! ha ! ha ! leave you for the 
English." 

He has a certain indifference about him 
sometimes that to strangers is not very 
pleasing. He sometimes is silent for 
minutes. One of these silent fits was 
interrupted the other day by his clasping 
his hands and exclaiming aloud, " Oh, my 
God, I wish this war was at an end ! " 

Noon. 

The Major gone to camp. I don't 
think we shall see him again. 

Well, strange creature that I am ; here 
have I been going on without giving thee 
an account of two officers, — one who will 



1 This was a force under Cornwallis, 3,000 strong, that had 
gone out to collect food and forage in the Merions, and which, as 
unexpectedly to themselves as to the Americans, encountered 
Sullivan, at the head of the latter column, at the ford. There 
was no battle, however. — H. M. J. 



,777] Sally Wister 121 

be a principal character; their names are 
Capt. Lipscomb' and a Mr. Tilly'; 
the former a tall, genteel man, very 
delicate from indisposition, and has a soft- 
ness in his countenance that is very 
pleasing, and has the finest head of hair 
that I ever saw; 'tis a light, shining 




iRkuben Lipscomb, of Virginia, became First-Lieutenant of the 
Seventh Virginia Regiment, February 26th, 1776, and Captain, 
November 28th, of the same year. He was transferred to the 

Fifth Virginia, Septem- 
y^ ber 14, 1778, and died 
y M^ ..^^t^yf^ October 3d following.— 
^T^CCr^H^ j„,,,,l Va. House of 

Delegates, Doc. No. 
81 (Richmond, 1833) j Heitman. — Under date of January 4, 
1780, Miss Wister thus comments on the deaths of Captains 
Smallwood and Lipscomb : 

"The mild Capt. Smallwood and amiable Lipscomb are no 
longer inhabitants of this terrestial world. Snatch' d in the bloom 
of youth by unrelenting death from all earthly connexions. I 
experienced a good deal of pleasure in the transient acquaintance I 
had with these young men— but they are no more. I felt sorry 
when I heard of their deaths 5 yet, why lament a fate ?— 
By thousands envied, and by heaven approv'd 
Rare is the boon to those of longer date 
To live, to die, esteem'd, admir'd, belov'd." 

2 Robert Tilly, of Virginia, was appointed Paymaster of 
Grayson's Additional Continental Regiment, April 15, 1777- He 
resigned from the army August 31, 1778.— Heitman. 



122 Journal of [Dec. n 

auburn. The fashion of his hair was 
this — negligently ty'd and waving down 
his back. Well may it be said, — 

** Loose flow'd the soft redundance of his hair." 

He has not hitherto shown himself a 
lady's man, tho' he is perfectly polite. 

Now let me attempt to characterize 
Tilly. He seems a wild, noisy mortal, 
tho' I am not much acquainted with him. 
He appears bashful when with girls. We 
dissipated the Major's bashfulness ; but 
I doubt we have not so good a subject 
now. He is above the common size, 
rather genteel, an extreme pretty, ruddy 
face, hair brown, and a sufficiency of it, 
a very great laugher, and talks so excess- 
ively fast that he often begins sentences 
without finishing the last, which confuses 
him very much, and then he blushes and 
laughs ; and in short, he keeps me in 
perpetual good humour ; but the creature 
has not address'd one civil thing to me 
since he came. 

But I have not done with his accom- 



1777] Sally Wister 123 

plishments yet, for he is a musician, — that 
is, he plays on the German flute, and has 
it here. 



Fifth Day Night. 

The family retir'd ; take the adventures 
of the afternoon as they occurr'd. 

Seaton and Capt. Lipscomb drank tea 
with us. While we sat at tea, the parlour 
door was open'd ; in came Tilly ; his 
appearance was elegant ; he had been 
riding ; the wind had given the most 
beautiful glow to his cheeks, and blow'd 
his hair carelessly round his face. 

Oh, my heart, thought I, be secure ! 

The caution was needless, I found it 
without a wish to stray. 

When the tea equipage was remov'd, 
the conversation turned on politicks, a 
subject I avoid. I gave Betsy a hint. 
I rose, she followed, and we went to seek 
Liddy. 

We chatted a few moments at the 
door. The moon shone with uncommon 



124 Journal of [Dec. II 

splendour. Our spirits were high. I pro- 
pos'd a walk ; the girls agreed. When 
we reached the poplar tree, we stopp'd. 
Our ears were assail'd by a number of 
voices. 

" A party of light horse," said one. 

" The English, perhaps ; let's run 
home.'' 

" No, no," said I, " be heroines." 

At last two or three men on horseback 
came in sight. We walked on. The 
well-known voice of the Major saluted 
our hearing with, " How do you do, 
ladies? " 

We turn'd ourselves about with one 
accord. He, not relishing the idea of 
sleeping on the banks of the Schuylkill, 
had return'd to the Mill. 

We chatted along the road till we 
reach'd our hospitable mansion. Stodard 
dismounted, and went into Jesse's parlour. 
I sat there a half hour. He is very 
amiable. 

Seaton, Lipscomb, Tilly, and my father, 
hearing of his return, and impatient for 



1777] Sally Wister 125 

the news, came in at one door, while I 
made my exit at the other. 

I am vex'd at Tilly, who has his flute, 
and does nothing but play the fool. He 
begins a tune, plays a note or so, then 
stops. Well, after a while, he begins 
again ; stops again. " Will that do, 
Seaton? Hah! hah! hah!" 

He has given us but two regular tunes 
since he arriv'd. I am passionately fond 
of music. How boyish he behaves. 



Sixth dayy December I2thy I'J'JJ. 

I ran into aunt's this morn to chat 
with the girls. Major Stodard join'd us 
in a few minutes. 

I verily believe the man is fond of the 
ladies, and, what to me is astonishing, he 
has not discovered the smallest degree of ' 
pride. Whether he is artful enough to 
conceal it under the veil of humility, or 
whether he has none, is a question ; but 
I am inclined to think it the latter. 

I really am of opinion that there are 



126 Journal of [Dec. 12 

few of the young fellows of the modern 
age exempt from vanity, more especially 
those who are bless'd with exterior graces. 
If they have a fine pair of eyes they are 
ever rolhng them about ; a fine set of 
teeth, mind, they are great laughers ; a 
genteel person, forever changing their 
attitudes to show them to advantage. 
Oh, vanity, vanity ; how boundless is thy 
sway ! 

But to resume this interview with 
Major Stodard. We were very witty and 
sprightly. I was darning an apron, upon 
which he was pleas'd to compliment me. 

" Well, Miss Sally, what would you do 
if the British were to come here ? " 

" Do," exclaimed I ; "be frightened 
just to death." 

He laugh'd, and said he would escape 
their rage by getting behind the rep- 
resentation of a British grenadier which 
you have upstairs. "Of all things, I 
should like to frighten Tilly with it. 
Pray, ladies, let's fix it in his chamber 
to-night." 



The " Other Figure 



,777] Sally Wister 127 

"If thee will take all the blame, we 
will assist thee." 

"' That I will," he replied, and this was 
the plan. 

We had brought some weeks ago a 
British grenadier from Uncle Miles's on 
purpose to divert us. It is remarkably 
well executed, six foot high, and makes a 
martial appearance. This we agreed to 
stand at the door that opens into the road 
(the house has four rooms on a floor, with 
a wide entry running through), with 
another figure that would add to the 
deceit. One of our servants was to stand 
behind them, others were to serve as 
occasion offered. 

After half an hour's converse, in which 
we rais'd our expectations to the highest 
pitch, we parted. If our scheme answers, 
I shall communicate in the eve. Till 
then, adieu. 'Tis dining hour. 

Sixth Day Night. 

Never did I more smcerely wish to pos- 
sess a descriptive genius than I do now. 



Journal of [Dec. 12 



All that I can write will fall infinitely 
short of the truly diverting scene that 
I have been witness to to-night. But, as 
I mean to attempt an account, I had as 
well shorten the preface, and begin the 
story. 

In the beginning of the evens I went 
to Liddy and beg'd her to secure the 
swords and pistols which were in their 
parlour. The Marylander, hearing our 
voices, joined us. I told him of my 
proposal. Whether he thought it a good 
one or not I can't say, but he approv'd 
of it, and Liddy went in and brought her 
apron full of swords & pistols. 

When this was done, Stodard join'd the 
officers. We girls went and stood at the 
first landing of the stairs. The gentlemen 
were very merry and chatting on public 
affairs, when Seaton's negro (observe that 
Seaton, being indisposed, was apprized of 
the scheme) open'd the door, candle in his 
hand, and said, " There's somebody at the 
door that wishes to see you." 

" Who ? All of us ? " said Tilly. 



,777] Sally Wister 129 

" Yes, sir," answer'd the boy. 

They all rose (the Major, as he after- 
wards said, almost dying with laughing), 
and walk'd in to the entry, Tilly first, in 
full expectation of news. 

The first object that struck his view 
was a British soldier. In a moment his 
ears were saluted with, " Is there any rebel 
officers here ? " in a thundering voice. 

Not waiting for a second word, he 
darted hke lightning out at the front 
door, through the yard, bolted o'er the 
fence. Swamps, fences, thorn -hedges,' 
and plough'd fields no way impeded his 
retreat. He was soon out of hearing. 
The woods echoed with, " Which way 
did he go ? Stop him ! Surround the 
house ! " The amiable Lipscomb had his 
hand on the latch of the door, intending 
to attempt his escape ; Stodard, consider- 
ing his indisposition, acquainted him with 
the deceit. 



1 This fixes the fact that the thorn-hedges which for many years 
divided a number of fields and farms about Penllyn had been 
planted before the Revolution.— H. M. J. 



130 Journal of [Dec. 12 

We females ran down stairs to join in 
the general laugh. I walked into Jesse's 
parlour. There sat poor Stodard (whose 
sore lips must have received no advantage 
from this), almost convuls'd with laughing, 
rolling in an arm-chair. He said nothing; 
I believe he could not have spoke. 

"Major Stodard," said I, "go call 
Tilly back. He will lose himself, — 
indeed he will ; " every word interrupted 
with a " Ha ! ha ! " 

At last he rose, and went to the door, 
and what a loud voice could avail in 
bringing him back, he tried. 

Figure to thyself this Tilly, of a snowy 
evens, no hat, shoes down at heel, hair 
unty'd, flying across meadows, creeks and 
mud-holes. Flying from what ^ Why, 
a bit of painted wood. But he was 
ignorant of what it was. The idea of 
being made a prisoner wholly engross'd 
his mind, and his last resource was to run. 

After a while, we being in rather more 
composure, and our bursts of laughter less 
frequent, yet by no means subsided, — in 



1777] Sally Wister 131 

full assembly of girls and officers, — Tilly 
entered. 

The greatest part of my risibility 
turned to pity. Inexpressible confusion 
had taken entire possession of his coun- 
tenance, his fine hair hanging dishevelFd 
down his shoulders, all splashed with 
mud ; yet his fright, confusion and race 
had not divested him of his beauty. 

He smil'd as he trip'd up the steps ; 
but *twas vexation plac'd it on his features. 
Joy at that moment was banished from 
his heart. He briskly walked five or six 
steps, then stopt, and took a general sur- 
vey of us all. 

" Where have you been, Mr. Tilly ? " 
ask'd one officer. (We girls were silent.) 

"I really imagin'd," said Stodard, "that 
you were gone for your pistols. I fol- 
lowed you to prevent danger," — an excess- 
ive laugh at each question, which it was 
impossible to restrain. 

" Pray, where were your pistols, Tilly?" 

He broke his silence by the following 
expression : " You may all go to the 



132 Journal of [Dec. 13 

D 1." I never heard him utter an 

indecent expression before. 

At last his good nature gain'd a com- 
pleat ascendance over his anger, and he 
join'd heartily in the laugh. I will do him 
the justice to say that he bore it charm- 
ingly. No cowardly threats, no vengeance 
denounced. 

Stodard caught hold of his coat. 
" Come, look at what you ran from," and 
drag'd him to the door. 

He gave it a look, said it was very 
natural, and, by the singularity of his 
expressions, gave fresh cause for diversion. 
We all retir'd to our different parlours, 
for to rest our faces, if I may say so. 

Well, certainly, these military folks will 
laugh all night. Such screaming I never 
did hear. Adieu to-night. 

Seventh-day Morn, December ijth. 

I am fearful they will yet carry the joke 
too far. Tilly certainly possesses an un- 
common share of good nature, or he 
could not tolerate these frequent teasings. 



1777] Sally Wister 133 

Ah, Deborah, the Major is going to 
leave us entirely — just going. I will see 
him first. 

Seventh Day Noo?i. 

He has gone. I saw him pass the 
bridge. The woods, which you enter 
immediately after crossing it, hinder'd us 
from following him farther. I seem to 
fancy he will return in the even§. 

Seventh Day Night. 

Stodard not come back. We shall not, 
I fancy, see him again for months, per- 
haps years, unless he should visit Philad*. 
We shall miss his agreeable company. 

But what shall we make of Tilly ? No 
civil things yet from him. Adieu to-night, 
my dear. 

First Day Morn, December 14th. 

The officers yet here. No talk of their 
departure. They are very lively. Tilly's 
retreat the occasion ; the principal one, 
however [at least]. 



134 Journal of [Dec. 14 

First Day Night. 

Capt. Lipscomb, Seaton, and Tilly, 
with cousin Hannah Miles,^ din'd with us 
to-day. Hannah's health seems estab- 
lish'd, to our great joy. 

Such an everlasting laugher as Tilly I 
never knew. He caus'd us a good deal 
of diversion while we sat at table. He 
has not said a syllable to one of us young 
ladies since Sixth-day eve. He tells 
Lipscomb that the Major had the assist- 
ance of the ladies in the execution of the 
scheme. He tells a truth. 

About four o'clock I was standing at 
the door, leaning my head on my hand, 
when a genteel officer rode up to the gate 
and dismounted. "Your servant, ma'am," 
and gave me the compliment of his hat. 
Walk'd into aunt's. 

I went into our parlour. Soon Seaton 
was call'd. Many minutes had not 

1 Hannah Miles, daughter of Colonel Samuel Miles. She 
married Joseph B. McKean, eldest son of Thomas McKean, 
Governor of Pennsylvania and Signer of the Declaration of 
Independence. 



1777] Sally Wister 135 

elapsed before he entered with the same 
young fellow whom I had just seen. He 
introduced him by the name of Capt. 
Smallwood.^ We seated ourselves. I 
then had an opportunity of seeing him. 
Fie is a brother to Gen'l Smallwood. 
A very genteel, pretty little fellow, very 
modest, and seems agreeable, but no 
personal resemblance between him and 
the Major. 

After tea, turning to Tilly, he said, 
" So, sir, I have heard you had like to 
have been made a prisoner last Friday 
night ! " 

" Pray, sir, who informed you ? " 
" Major Stodard was my author." 
" I fancy he made a fine tale of it. 
How far did he say I ran ? " 

" Two mile ; and that you fell into 
the mill-dam ! " 



' Heabard Smallwood, son of Bayne Smallwood, and brother 
of General William Smallwood, was made Captain of Grayson's 
Additional Continental Regiment, March 4, 1777. He resigned 
from the army, October 6, 1778, and died soon after. (Heitman.) 
See Sally Wister's remarks upon his death, page 121. 



136 Journal of [Dec. 14 

He rais'd his eyes and hands, and 
exclaimed, " What a confounded false- 
hood!" 

The whole affair was again reviv'd. 

Our Tillian Hero gave a mighty droll 
account of his retreat, as they call it. 
He told us that after he had got behind 
our kitchen he stop'd for company, as he 
expected the others wou'd immediately 
follow. " But I heard them scream, 
' Which way did he go ? Where is he ? ' 
' Aye,* said I, to myself, ' he is gone 
where you shan't catch him,* and off I set 
again." 

" Pray," ask'd mamma, " did thee keep 
that lane between the meadows ? " 

" Oh, no, ma'am ; that was a large road, 
and I might happen to meet some of 
them. When I reach'd yon thorn hedge, 
I again stop'd. As it was a cold night, 
I thought I would pull up my shoe heels, 
and tye my handkerchief round my head. 
I then began to have a suspicion of a 
trick, and, hearing the Major hollow, I 
came back." 



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Tilly and ''The British GreDadier. " — I. 

Photographed from the original manuscript. 



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Tilly and ''The British Grenadier." — II. 



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Tilly and ''The British (irenadier/' — IV. 



io* /I'^ift 



1777] Sally Wister 137 

I think I did not laugh more at the 
very time than to-night at the rehearsal 
of it. He is so good-natured, and takes 
all their jokes with so good a grace, that 
I am quite charm'd with him. He laugh- 
ingly denounces vengeance against Stod- 
ard. He will be even with him. He is 
in the Major's debt, but he will pay him. 

Second-day Evenly December l^th. 

Smallwood has taken up his quarters 
with us. Nothing worth relating occur'd 
to-day 

jdy 4th and Fifth- day. 

We chatted a little with the officers. 
Smallwood not so chatty as his brother or 
nephew. Lipscomb is very agreeable ; a 
delightful musical voice. 

Sixth-day Noony Dec. ipth. 
The officers, after the politest adieus, 
have left us. Smallwood and Tilly are 
going to Maryland,^ where they live ; 

' General Smallwood's brigade passed the winter at Wilmington. 



138 Journal of [Dec 20 

Seaton to Virginia ; and Lipscomb to 
Camp, to join his regiment. I feel sorry 
at their departure, yet 'tis a different kind 
from what I felt some time since. We 
had not contracted so great an intimacy 
with those last. 



Seventh-day^ December 20th. 

General Washington's army have 
gone into winter quarters at the Valley 
Forge.^ 

We shall not see many of the military 
now. We shall be very intimate with 
solitude. I am afraid stupidity will be a 
frequent guest. 

After so much company, I can't relish 
the idea of sequestration. 

First-day Night. 

A dull round of the same thing over 
again. I shall hang up my pen till 
something offers worth relating. 

' The Army marched to Valley Forge on the 19th of Decem- 
ber, 1777. 



1778] Sally Wister 139 

February Third or Fourth , I for [get which f^ 

I thought I shou'd never have anything 
to say again. Nothing happened all 
January that was uncommon. Capt. 
Lipscomb and Mos ij) ^ stay'd one night 
at Jesse's ; sup'd with us. How elegant 
the former was dres'd and how pretty he 
look'd. 



Indeed I have forgot to keep an exact 
account of the day of the month in which 
I went down to George Emlen's with 
P. Fishbourn, but it was the 23d or 24th 
of February (P).'^ After enjoying a week of 
her agreeable company at the Mill, I 

' This name is difficult to decipher, but it is probably Moss. 
One Henry Moss, of Virginia, was appointed Second-Lieutenant of 
the Second Virginia Regiment, January 13, 1777 ; First-Lieutenant, 
July II, 1777. He was taken prisoner at Charleston, May 12, 
1780, and was exchanged in April, 1781. In 178 1 he was raised 
to the rank of captain, and served to the end of the war. — 
Heitman. 

^ The name of the month is not decipherable with any certainty. 
It might be taken to be "January," but this is even harder to 
reconcile with the other dates than the reading given in the text. 



I40 Journal of [Feb. 

returned with her to Whitemarsh. We 
went on horseback, the roads bad. We 
however surmounted this difficulty, and 
arrived there safe. 

Frd. Fishbourn^ and P. Talman^ were 



1 Mary Fishbourne, widow of William Fishbourne. She was 
a daughter either of Benjamin Talman, of Mansfield, New Jersey, 
or of James Talman, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, probably the 
former. She was born about 1726, and died October 9, 1 781, in 
her 55th year. The Penmyl-vania Gazette says of her : "In her 
social character she was a kind neighbour and a warm friend. In 
her political one she bore a steady and zealous regard to the rights 
of her country." 

She was married November 8, 1749, probably at Chesterfield 
Meeting, New Jersey, to William Fishbourne, of Philadelphia, 
son of William and Hannah (Carpenter) Fishbourne. He was 
born December 2, 171 5, and died September 6, 1777. They 
had the following children: I. Elizabeth, b. Sept., 1752, d., 
Phila., April 24, 1826, m., Dec. 7, 1774, Thomas Wharton, 
Jr., President of the Supreme Executive Council (acting Governor 
of Penna.), b. 1735, died at Lancaster, Pa., May 22, 17785 
II. Hannah j III. Sarah, m. George Emlen ; IV. Benjamin, b. 
Jan. 4, 1759, rn. Anne Ware; V. Mary, m. Dr. Samuel Powell 
Griffitts; VI. Thomas; VII. William.— i//7J^W« MSS., Hist. 
Soc. Pa. 

^ This was probably a kinswoman, Polly Talman. In a letter to 
Sally Wister, dated Philadelphia, September 4, 1795, Polly 
(Fishbourne) Griffitts writes that " Cousin Polly T. is in Jersey." 
One Mary Talman, of Phila., who made her will in 1804, 
appointed her cousins, Thomas F. and Fishbourne Wharton, 
executors. 



,778] Sally Wister 141 

there. It gave me great pleasure to see 
people whom I esteem after so very long 
an absence. We spent an agreeable after- 
noon. In the evens Frd. F. and P. T. 
return'd to their home about a mile or 

two distant. 

Second- day Eve. 

G. E. brought us a charming collection 
of books, — "Joe Andrews,"' "Juliet 
Grenville,"' and some Ladys Magazines!" 
P. T. sent us " CaroUne Melmoth."^ 

Third-day y February 2^th. 
Rose between eight and nine, break- 
fasted, read & worked by turns, chatted 
agreeably. I think Sally Emlen is one 

1 " The History of the Adventures of Joseph Andrews and his 
friend Mr. Abraham Adams," Henry Fielding's famous novel, is 
a typical specimen of the racy literature of that day. 

2 <' Juliet Grenville ; or, the history of the human heart," a 
novel, by Henry Brooke, London, 1774. 3 vols. Reprinted in 
Philadelphia the same year in 2 vols. 

3" The Lad'^'% Magazine; or, Entertaining Companion for the 
Fair Sex, Appropriated solely to their Use and Amusement."'' 
<' London : Printed for G. Robinson. N» 25 Pater-noster 

Row." First published in I 742. 

* " Miss Melmoth ; or, the new Clarissa," is evidently the title 
intended. 



142 Journal of [Feb. 26 

of the most beautiful women I ever saw, 
agrc :able, affable, sensible in the true 
sense of the words. Her conversation is 
so very lively and diverting that were her 
personal attractions less than they are she 
cou*d not fail of being belov'd. She has 
one lovely daughter. 

Third-da-^ Even. 

This day Mrs. and Miss West visited 
here. I did not feel in a humour capable 
of entertaining or being entertain'd, so I 
sat very still. Spent the eve in reading 
and chatting of the past, present and 
future. 

We talk of going to frd. Fishbourn's 
to-morrow. 

Fourth-dajy 26th. 
I thought this morn that our scheme of 
going to Fr'd F. was entirely frustrated, 
as S. Emlen was much indispos'd with the 
headache. About twelve she got better. 
We made some alterations in our dress, 
step'd into the carriage, and rode off. 
Spent a most delightful day. 




Mrs. (jeortje Kmlen 



1778] Sally Wister 143 

As we approach'd the house, on our 
return, we perceiv'd several strangers in 
the parlour. Polly's face and mine 
brighten'd up at the discovery. We 
alighted. Polly swung open the door, 
and introduc'd me to Major Jameson ^ & 
Capt. Howard, both of the dragoons, 
the former from ^ Virginia, the latter a 
Mary lander. 

We all seem'd in the penseroso style 
till after supper. We then began to be 
rather more sociable. About ten they bid 
us adieu. 

I dare say thee is impatient to know 
my sentiments of the swains. Howard 
has very few external charms ; indeed, I 



^JoHN Jameson, of Culpepper County, Virginia, was made 
Captain in the First Regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, 
June l6th, 1776; Major, March 31st, 1777. After the 



CX O '^-m^ xJ^ O^ 



C'-'^'yyx. 6"^^^- 



Revolution he served for many years as clerk of Culpepper 
County.— Bland MSS., Cong. Lib., Wash. ; Rev. MSS., State 
Lib., Richmond 5 Cal. State Papers, Va., IV., VL 



144 Journal of [March I 

cannot name one. As to his internal 
ones, I am not a judge. Jameson is tall 
and manly, a comely face, dark eyes and 
hair. Seems to be much of a gentleman. 
No ways deficient in point of sense, or, at 
least, in the course of the evens, I 
discovered none. 

Fifth- and Sixth-day, and yth-day pass'd 
away very agreeably. No strangers. 

First-day Eve. 

This morn my charming friend and 
self ascended the barren hills of White- 
marsh, from the tops of which we had an 
extensive prospect of the country round. 
The traces of the Army which encamp'd 
on these hills are very visible, — ragged 
huts, imitations of chimneys, and many 
other ruinous objects, which plainly 
show'd they had been there. D. J. Shoe- 
maker dined with us. 

Second Day. 
Very cold and windy. I wonder I am 
not sent for. Read and work'd by turns. 



1778] Sally Wister 14S 

Third Day. 

A raw, snowy day. I am sent for, 
nevertheless. Adieu. 



North IVaieSy at my old habitatioji at the Mill, 

March ist, 1778, Third Day Eve. 

Such a ride as I have had, O dear 
Debby(?).^ About 1 o'clock the sleigh came 
for me. Snowing excessively fast, though 
not sufficiently deep to make it tolerable 
sleighing ; but go I must. I bid adieu to 
my agreeable frds, and with a heavy heart 
& flowing eyes, I seated myself in the 
unsociable vehicle. 

There might as well have been no snow 

o 

on the ground. I was jolted just to 
pieces. But, notwithstanding these vexa- 
tions, I got safe to my home, when I had 
the great pleasure of finding my dear 
parents, sisters and brother well, a bless- 
ing which I hope ever to remember with 
thankfulness. 

1 Not legible. 



146 Journal of [May II 

Well, will our nunnery be more bearable 
now than before I left it? No beaus 
since I left here, so I have the advantage 
of the girls. They are wild to see Major 
Jameson. 

May iithy 1778. 

The scarcity of paper, which is very 
great in this part of the country, and the 
three last months producing hardly any- 
thing material, has prevented me from 
keeping a regular account of things ; but 
to-day the scene begins to brighten, and 
I will continue my nonsense. 

In the afternoon, we were just seated at 
tea, — Dr. Moore^ with us. Nelly (our 
girl) brought us the wonderful intelligence 
that there were light horse in the road. 

1 Dr. Charles Moore, of Montgomery Square, Montgomery 
County, son of Richard and Margaret (Preston) Moore, was born 
March 25, 1724. He was graduated in medicine at the University 

of Edinburgh, Scot- 
land, in 1752, his 
thesis entitled De Usu 
Vesicantium in Feb- 
ribus being printed 
in Edinburgh the following year. On his return to Pennsylvania 
he brought a certificate of removal dated March 29, 1753, from 





Old Mantel and Fireboard, 
Emlen House, " Whitemarsh," now Camp Hill, 1902 



778] Sally Wister 



147 



The tea-table was almost deserted. About 
15 light horse were the vanguard of 16 
hundred men under the command of 
Gen'l Maxwell.^ I imagin'd that they 



the Monthly Meeting of Friends in Edinburgh to Philadelphia 
Monthly Meeting, which states that in 1 751 he had gone to 
London, but had returned again to Edinburgh, ** where he 
Resided about one year Longer Closely followed the Business he 
came hither for, gave content to all ye Professors of ye Colleges, 
who conferred a Diploma upon Him." 

In 1767 he was married, contrary to the order of Friends, to 
his cousin, Milcah Martha Hill, and settled at Montgomery Square, 
where he practiced his profession. He died without issue, at his 
residence, August 1 9, 1 801, and was buried in Friends' burial 
ground at North Wales or Gwynedd. — Keith's "Councillors," 
74; John Jay Smith, "Letters of Hill Family " 5 American 
Daily Ad-vertiser^ August 24, 1801 ; Jos. Smith, Sup. Cat. 
Friends' Books ; Dr. Thomas G. Morton, " History Pennsylvania 
Hospital," 490. 

^ William Maxwell, eldest son of John and Anne Maxwell, 
was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, about 1733. At an early 




age he came with his parents to New Jersey. He became a 
soldier in the French and Indian War, in 1758, establishing 
a good record for gallantry and skill, and was almost constantly 



14^ Journal of [May n 

wou'd pass immediately by, but I was 
agreeably disappointed. My father came 
in with the Gen'l, Col. Broadhead/ Major 

in military service thereafter until the summer of 1780. In 
1774 he was a member of the committee that appointed the New 
Jersey delegates to the general Congress, and in 1775 and 1776 he 
represented Sussex County in the New Jersey Provincial Congress. 
When the Revolution opened he was made Colonel of the Second 
New Jersey Regiment, November 8, 1775. He was promoted to 
be Brigadier-General, October 23, 1776. At the head of a New 
Jersey brigade he fought bravely at Brandywine and Germantown, 
and spent the winter of 1 777-1 778 at Valley Forge. At the 
battle of Monmouth he contributed largely to the success of the 
American forces. In 1779 he served under General Sullivan in 
the latter' s expedition against the Indians. He resigned from the 
Army July 5, 1780. " I believe him to be," wrote Washington, 
July 20, 1780, "an honest man, a warm friend to his country, 
and firmly attached to her interests." He died in Sussex County, 
New Jersey, November 4, 1796, and was buried in the graveyard 
of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich Township, Sussex 
County. — Hist. Sussex Co., N. J., 61, 62; Amer. Hist. Rec, 
II., 325, 423 ; Nat. Cyc. Bio., I., 73 ; Heitman. 

^ Daniel Brodhead was a native of the State of New York. 
In 1 771 he removed to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he was 
commissioned a Judge of the Court of Quarter Sessions and of the 

Court of Com- 
mon Pleas on 
July 9th of that 
year. In 1773, 
he was appointed 
Deputy Surveyor- 
General under John Lukens. From the beginning to the end of 
the Revolution he was actively engaged in military service. He 





Colonel Daniel Brodhead 



1778] Sally Wister 149 

Ogden^ and Capt. Jones. The Gen'l is a 
Scotsman, — nothing prepossessing in his 
appearance ; the CoF very martial and 
fierce ; Ogden, a genteel young fellow, 
with an aquiline nose. 

was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel of the Second Battalion of Miles's 
Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, March 13, 1776 ; was transferred to 
the Fourth Pennsylvania, October 25th, 1776 j became Colonel of 
the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment, March 12, 1 777, to rank 
from September 29, 1776. He was in most of the battles fought 
by Washin*gton's army until 1778, when he was transferred to the 
west with headquarters at Fort Pitt, where he was almost constantly 
engaged in a struggle with the Indian allies of the enemy until the 
close of the War. In 1789 he was elected Surveyor-General of 
Pennsylvania, and held that office nearly eleven years. His death 
occurred at Milford, Pennsylvania, November 15, 1809. — Amer. 
Hist. Rec, II., 194-200 5 Heitman. 

^ Aaron Ogden, son of Robert Ogden, member of Council 

and Speaker of the New Jersey Assembly, was born in 

Elizabeth town. New Jersey, December 3, 1756, and was graduated 

J. j^ from Princeton College in 1773. 

/>0C^^^7x ^CA^^^^ For a time he was an assistant 

^^-^-^^'^ in a grammar school, but on 

the breaking out of the Revolution he engaged actively in military 

service. He held the office of Paymaster of the First New Jersey 

Regiment from December 8, 1 775, to November, 1776. 

November 29, 1776, he was appointed First-Lieutenant of his 

regiment, and from February i, 1777, served as Regimental 

Quartermaster. He became Brigade Major to General Maxwell, 

March 7, 1778 ; Captain of the First New Jersey, February 2, 

1779 j-and served to the close of the war. After the Revolution 



150 Journal of [Mayn 

Captain Cadwallader Jones ^ — if I was 
not invincible, I must have fallen a victim 
to this man's elegancies, but (thank my 
good fortune, I am not made of suscep- 
tibilities), — tall, elegant and handsome, — 
white fac'd, with blue regimentals, and a 
mighty airish cap and white crest ; his 
behaviour is refin'd — a Virginian. They 
sat a few minutes after tea, then bid us 
adieu. 

This brigade is encamped about three 
miles from us. 



he studied law ; and in 1801 he was elected to the United States 
Senate from New Jersey. In 1 8 1 2 he was made Governor of New 
Jersey. From 1829 until his death he was President-General of 
the Society of the Cincinnati. He died April 19, 1839, at 
Elizabethtown, New Jersey. — Nat. Portrait Gallery (Phila., 
1834), I. ; Nat. Cyc. Bio., V., 203. 

^ Cadwallader Jones, of Virginia, received his appointment 
as Captain of the Third Continental Dragoons, February 6th, 1777, 




He served three years in the war. — Heitman 5 Journal House of 
Delegates, Va., for 1833, Doc. 305 Cal. State Papers, Va., II., 
370, 400. 




Major Aaron Ogden 



1778] Sally Wister 151 

First Day Evening. 

This afternoon has been productive of 
adventures in the true sense of the word. 
Jenny Roberts, Betsy, Liddy, and I, very 
genteelly dressed, determined to take a 
stroll. Neighbor Morgan's was proposed 
and agreed to. Away we rambled, heed- 
less girls. Pass'd two picket guards. 
Meeting with no interruptions encourag'd 
us. 

After paying our visit, we walked 
towards home, when, to my utter astonish- 
ment, the sentry desir'd us to stop ; that 
he had orders not to suffer any persons to 
pass but those who had leave from the 
officer, who was at the guard house, sur- 
rounded by a number of men. To go to 
him would be inconsistent with propriety; 
to stay there, and night advancing, was 
not clever. 

I was much terrified. I try'd to 
persuade the soldier to let us pass. "No; 
he dared not." Betsy attempted to go. 
He presented his gun, with the bayonet 
fix'd. This was an additional fright. 



152 Journal of [June 2 

Back we turn'd ; and, very fortunately, 
the officer, Capt. Emeson [Emerson] \ 
seeing our distress, came to us. I ask'd 
him if he had any objection to our 
passing the sentry. " None at all, 
ma'am." He waited upon us, and repri- 
manded the man, and we, without any 
farther difficulty, came home. 

Third Day, June 2d, lyyS. 

I was standing at the back window. 
An officer and private of dragoons rode 
by. I tore to the door to have a 
better view of them. They stopped. 
The officer rode up, and ask'd for Jesse, 
who was call'd. 

^ Amos Emerson, of Chester, New Hampshire, was married in 
1762 to Susanna, daughter of Captain Abel Morse. He served as 
First-Lieutenant of the Third New Hampshire from May 23d to 

December, 'i-11'^\ First-Lieutenant, Second Continental Infantry, 
January i, 1776. He was made Captain of the First New 
Hampshire, November, 1776, and retired from the service 
January i, 1781. He died in Candia in 1823, having had seven 
children born between 1764 and 1778. — Heitman 5 Chase, 
'* History of Chester, N. H." j N. H. Revolutionary Rolls. 



1778] Sally Wister 153 

Third- day Afternoo7i, ^ o^ clock. 

Oh, Deborah ; what capital adventures. 
Jesse came. The idea of having light 
horse quarter'd at the farm was disa- 
greeable ; the meadows just fit to mow, 
and we had heard what destruction 
awaited their footsteps. 

This was the dialogue between Jesse 
and the officer : 

" Pray, sir, can I have quarters for a 
few horsemen ? " 

" How many." 

" Five and twenty, sir. I do not mean 
to turn them into your meadows. If you 
have any place you can spare, anything 
will do." 

And he dismounted, and walk'd into 
aunt's parlour. I, determined to find out 
his character, follow'd. 

" I have," reply'd Jesse, " a tolerable 
field, that perhaps may suit." 

" That will do, sir. But if you have 
any objection to putting them in a field, 
my men shall cut the grass, and bring it 
in the road. I am under the necessity of 



154 Journal of [June 2 

quartering them here, but I was order'd. 
I am only an inferior officer." 

Some elegant corporal, thought I, and 
went to the door. He soon join'd me, 
speaking to his man, " Ride off, and tell 
Mr. Watts we rendezvous here." 

He inquir'd the name of the farmer, 
and went into aunt's ; I into the back 
room. The troop rode up. " New 
scenes," said I, and mov'd upstairs, 
where I saw them perform their different 
manoeuvres. 

This Mr. Watts ^ is remarkably tall, and 
a good countenance. I adjourn'd to our 

^JoHN Watts, of Virginia, born about 1755, became Cornet 
of Virginia Dragoons, June 17, 1776 ; Lieutenant First Continental 
Dragoons, February 12, 1777; Captain, April 7, 1778. He was 

wounded at Eutaw Springs, 
September 8, 1 781. Was 
retained in Baylor's Regi- 
ment of Dragoons, No- 
vember 9, 1782, and served to the close of the War. In 1799, 
in preparing for the anticipated war with France, he was made 
Lieutenant-Colonel of Light Dragoons, U. S. Army, and was 
honorably discharged June 15, 1800. He died at his residence, 
Gravelly Hill, Bedford County, Virginia, June 8, 1830. — Bland 
MSS., Cong. Lib., Washington 5 National Intelligencer, June 22, 
1830 } Heitman. 




1778] Sally Wister 155 

parlour. This first officer march'd up 
and down the entry. Prissa came in. 

" Good, now, Prissa. What's the name 
of this man P " 

" Dyer, I beheve. Capt. Dyer." Oh, 
the name ! 

" What does he say ? " 

" Why, that he will kiss me when he 
has din'd." " Singular," I observ'd, " on 
so short an acquaintance." 

" But," resum'd Prissa, " he came and 
fix'd his arm on the chair I sat in : 

" ' Pray, ma'am, is there not a family 
from town with you ? ' 

" ' Yes.' 

" ' What's their name .? ' 

" ' Wister.' 

" ' There's two fine girls there. I will 
go chat with them. Pray, did they leave 
their effects in Philad^ ^ ' 

" ' Yes, everything, almost.' 

" ' They shall have them again, that 
they shall.' " 

There ended the conversation. But 
this ugly name teas'd me. 



156 Journal of [June 2 

" Oh, Sally, he is a Virginian ; that's in 
his fav'' greatly. I'm not sure that's his 
name, but I understood so." 

Prissa left us. I step'd into aunt's 
for Johnny and desir'd him to come home. 
Up started the Captain : 

" Pray, let me introduce you, ma'am." 

" I am perfectly acquainted with him," 
said I, and turned to the door. 

" Tell your sister I believe she is not 
fond of strangers." 

I smil'd, and returned to our parlour. 

Third Day Nighty nine o* clocks aye ten^ 1 fancy. 

Take a circumstantial account of this 
afternoon, and the person of this extraor- 
dinary man. His exterior first. His 
name is not Dyer, but Alexander Spots- 
wood Dandridge, ^ which certainly gives a 

J Alexander Spotswood Dandridge, son of Captain Nathaniel 
Dandridge, of " Elsing Green," Hanover County, Virginia, and 



y^Z^^^^ 





his wife, Dorothea Spotswood, daughter of Governor Alexander 
Spotswood, of Virginia, was born at " Elsing Green," August I, 






"iJ^K 



'\iJ Sxvir 



■Z>fVi^ i^^-S^ n^sjMS.. ^Ij^Uu ii^ j(iui, tW^-tL>-li-/Uii£ -L^ a^ie- 



M.. . « a«, ^.J /«. „•. ^, ^, ^ ^, ^^ ^^^ ^^^ , ^^^ ^^ 
Captain Dandridge 

Photographed from the original manuscript 



1778] Sally Wister 157 

genteel idea of the man. But I will be 
particular. 

His person is more elegantly form'd 
than any I ever saw ; tall and command- 
ing. His forehead is very white, tho' the 
lower part of his face is much sunburn'd ; 



1753. In 1775, probably through the interest of his brother- 
in-law, Patrick Henry, young Dandridge became associated with 
the Hendersons, Boones and others in the settlement of Kentucky, 
and was one of the eighteen men who met in legislative Assembly 
under a large elm tree near the walls of the fort at Boones- 
borough. May 23, 1775, to establish a government in the 
new country. 

The news of the fight at Lexington, however, cut short the 
proceedings of the Legislature, and most of the members hastened 
to the defense of the Colonies. It is shown by family letters that 
for a time young Dandridge was attached to General Washington's 
staff, but this was apparently uncommissioned service, as his name 
does not appear in any staff-list ; it is probable that he was only 
temporarily a member of the General's military family, as being a 
young cousin of Mrs. Washington. 

He was made Lieutenant of the Fourth Virginia Dragoons, 
June 13, 1776; Captain of the Virginia Artillery Battalion, 
November 30, 1776; and Captain of the First Continental 
Dragoons, March 15th, 1777. He resigned from the Army 
April 14, 1780. 

To,wards the end of the War, so the story goes, Captain 
Dandridge was in Winchester for a short time, and one day, 
standing with a group of officers near the entrance of old Fort 
Loudoun, he saw riding towards them General Adam Stephen and 
a beautiful young girl in a red riding-dress. This was the General's 



15^ Journal of [June 2 

his features are extremely pleasing ; an 
even, white set of teeth, dark hair and 
eyes. I can't better describe him than by 
saying he is the handsomest man 1 ever 
beheld. Betsy and Liddy coincide in this 
opinion. 

After I had sat a while at home, in 
came Dandridge. He enter'd into chat 
immediately. Ask'd if we knew Tacy 
Vanderen. ^ Said he courted her, and 



daughter, Anne Stephen, who had ridden with her father from 
their home in Berkeley County, twenty miles away, to see the 
soldiers. The gallant young captain soon fell a victim to the fair 
Anne's charms, and their marriage was celebrated not long after. 
He then left Hanover County, and settled on a large plantation 
called the "Bower," in what is now Jefferson County, in the 
Valley of Virginia, about eight miles from Martinsburg, Here he 
died, in April, 1785 (buried in Martinsburg), leaving his young 
widow with an only child, a son, Adam Stephen Dandridge, but 
little over two years of age, to survive. The widow died in 1834 
aged 76 years. The son inherited the " Bower," and it is still 
owned by descendants of the name. — Collins, Hist. Ky., 337, 
5015 Amer. Arch., III., 1594, VI., 15665 Heitman ; 
data from Dandridge family. 

^ Tacy Vanderen was a daughter of John Vanderen and 
his wife Susanna, daughter of Jacob and Mary Holcomb, 
of Buckingham, Bucks County. John Vanderen was a 
Quaker miller, whose mill was located on the Wissahickon, near 
its junction with the Schuylkill, in Roxborough Township, 



' ask net xkiclics nor t«^ Icitgtii of 0%^ 
















?'';>?!' of .^'im<A ^c-:cl sfdropci below 



# 



"% ?< ■ >^ 



■Sal.* '-,r'4 ^ *»^*' >',<*' -fS- 

f^ ^i- -ssff- "a." "" r 



*Ji { 



Sally Wister's Sampler. 



1778] Sally Wister -159 

that they were to be married soon. 
Observ'd my sampler, which was in full 
view. Wish'd I would teach the Vir- 
ginians some of my needle wisdom ; they 
were the laziest girls in the world. Told 
his name. Laugh'd and talk'd incessantly. 

At last, " May I " (to mamma) " intro- 
duce my brother officer .? " We assented ; 
so he caird him. 

" Mr. Watts, Mrs. Wister, young Miss 
Wisters. Mr. Watts, ladies, is one of our 
Virginia children." 

Philadelphia County, near Germantown. In her father's will 
(U 103), dated July 2i, 1785, probated May 7, 1788, she is 
mentioned as Tacy, " the Wife of Thomas Smith, Esquire." 

At Abington Monthly Meeting, October 30, 1752, John 
Vanderen produced a certificate for himself and wife from Radnor 
Monthly Meeting, and doubtless took up his residence in 
Germantown. He joined Buckingham Monthly Meeting in 1745. 

By deed of June 28, I755, John Vanderin, miller, of 
Germantown, came into possession of Roxborough Mills, formerly 
called Wissahickon Mills, with eight acres of land attached, which 
he had purchased from the estate of Henry Shellenberg, at a 
vendue held May 5, 1755, for a consideration of ^1115 (I 12, 
p. 418). In later documents he is styled miller, of Roxborough 
Township. 

In his will he gives to his wife Susanna the use of the house, 
her choice of furniture, including "all my plate and Tea Urn," 
one good new single " Horse Chaise," " the upper half-part of 



l6o Journal of [June 2 

He sat down. Tea was order'd. Dan- 
dridge never drank tea. Watts had 
done ; so we sat to the tea-table alone. 

" Let's walk in the garden," said the 
Captain ; we call'd Liddy, and went (not 
Watts). We sat down in a sort of a 
summer-house. 

" Miss Sally, are you a Quaker ? " 

"Yes." 

" Now, are you a Quaker ^ " 

" Yes, I am." 

" Then you are a Tory." 

" I am not, indeed." 

" Oh, dear," reply'd he, " I am a poor 
creature. I can hardly live." 

Then, flying away from that subject, 

" Will you marry me, Miss Sally ? " 



the Flower Garden and the Front half-part of the Kitchen Garden 
or Garden over the way." She is to receive an income from 
" the Plantation whereon I now live and the Mill thereon erected." 
To his *' Honored Mother M. Rorebach," he leaves £i2 per 
annum. He mentions his six children, John, Charles, George^ 
Joseph and Susanna Vanderin, and Tacy, wife of Thomas Smith. 
The inventory of his estate includes " Sewell's History," " one 
lot of books, viz., Journals of Friends, etc.," "A map of 
America," and "an old Bible with needlework covering." 



1778] Sally Wister i6i 

" No, really ; a gentleman after he has 
said he has not sufficient to maintain him- 
self, to ask me to marry him." 

" Never mind what I say, I have 
enough to make the pot boil." " 

Had we been acquainted seven years, 
we could not have been more sociable. 
The md6n gave a sadly pleasing light. 
We sat at the door till nine. 

•Dandridge is sensible (and divest'd of 
some freedoms, w^hich might be call'd 
gallant in the fashioiJlble world), he i» 
polite and agreeable. His greatest fault is 
a propensity •to swearing, which throws tf 
shade over his accomplishments. I 
ask'd him why he did so. " It is a 
favorite vice. Miss Sally." At nine he 
went to his chamber. Sets off at sunrise. 

Fourth Day Mor?iy 12 o'clock. 

I was awaken'd at four this morn with 
a great racket of the Captain's servant 
calling him ; but the lazy fellow never rose 
till about half an hour before eight. 
This his daylight ride. 



i62 journal of [Junes 

I imagin'd they would be gone before 
now, so I dressed in a green'h skirt and 
dark short gown. Provoking. So down 
I came, this Captain (wild wretch) stand- 
ing at the back door. He bow'd and 
call'd me. 1 only look'd, and went to 
breakfast. 

About nine I took my work and seated 
myself in the parlour. Not long had I 
sat, when in came Dandridge, — the hand- 
somest man in existence, at least that I 
had ever seen. 

But stop here, while 1 just say, the 
night before, chatting upon dress, he 
said he had no patience with those officers 
who, every morn, before they went on 
detachments, wou'd wait to be dress'd and 
powder'd. 

" I am," said I, " excessively fond of 
powder, and think it very becoming." 

" Are you ? " he reply'd. " I am very 
careless, as often wearing my cap thus " 
(turning the back part before) " as any 
way." 

I left off where he came in. He was 



1778] Sally Wister 163 

powder'd very white, a (pretty coloured) 
brown coat, lapell'd with green, and white 
waistcoat, &c., and his 

** Sword beside him negligently hung.*' 

He made a truly elegant figure. 

" Good morning. Miss Sally. You are 
very well, I hope." 

"Very well. Pray sit down," which 
he did, close by me. " Oh, dear," said 
I, " I see thee is powder'd." 

"Yes, ma'am. I have dress'd myself 
off for you." 

Will 1 be excused, Debby, if I look 
upon his being powder'd in the light of a 
compliment to me ? " Yes, Sally, as thee 
is a country maid, and don't often meet 
with comphments." Saucy Debby Norris ! 

'Tis impossible to write a regular account 
of our conversation. Be it sufficient 
to say that we had a multiplicity of chat. 

About an hour since, sister Hannah^ 
came to me and said Captain Dandridge 

J Hannah Wister, born November 19, 1767, died unmarried 
about 1827. 



164 Journal of [Junes 

was in the parlour, and had ask'd for me. 
I went in. He met me, caught my 
hands. " Oh, Miss Sally, 1 have a 
beautiful sweetheart for you." 

" Poh ! ridiculous ! Loose my hands." 

'* Well, but don't be so cross." 

"Who is he!" 

" Major Clough." 

" I have seen him. Ain't he pretty, to 
be sure ? " 

" 1 am going to headquarters. Have 
you any commands there ? " 

" None at all ; but (recollecting), yes, 
I have. Pray, who is your commanding 
officer ? " 

" Col. Bland, ma'am." 

" Please give my compliments to him, 
and I shou'd be glad if he wou'd send 
thee back with a little m.ore manners." 

He reply'd wickedly, and told me I had 
a little spiteful heart. But he was intoler- 
ably saucy ; said he never met with such 
ladies. 

" Not to let me kiss you. You're very 
ill-natur'd, Miss Sally." 



1778] Sally Wister 165 

And, putting on the sauciest, sober face, 
" Sally, if Tacy V-nd-r-n won't have me, 
will you ? " 

" No, really ; none of her discarded 
lovers." 

" But, provided I prefer you to her, will 
you consent? " 

" No, I won't." 

" Very well, madam." 

And, after saying he would return 
to-morrow, among a hundred other 
things, he elegantly walk'd out of the 
room. 

Soon he came back, took up a volume of 
Homer's Iliad, and read to us. He reads 
very well, and with judgment. One 
remark he made, that I will relate, on 
these lines, — 

** While Greece a heavy, thick retreat maintains, 
Wedg'd in one body, like a flight of cranes." 

" God knows our Army don't do so. I 
wish they did." 

He laugh'd, threw down the book, left 
his sword, and went away. 



l66 Journal of [June 3 

Four 0' clock, Jftcrnoon. 

Major Clough, ^ Captain Swan, ^ and 
Mr. Moore, a lieutenant of horse, din'd 
with Dandridge. The latter, after dinner, 
came in to bid us adieu. He sat down, 
and was rather saucy. I look'd very 
grave. 

" Miss Betsy, you have a very ill- 
natur'd sister. Observe how cross she 
looks." 

He prayed we might part friends, and 
offered his hand. I gave him mine, v/hich 
he kiss'd in a very gallant manner ; and 
so, with a truly affectionate leave, he 

' Alexander Clough was made Adjutant of the First New- 
Jersey Troop, November 20, 1775, and Major of the Third 
Continental Dragoons, January 8, 1 777. He was killed at Tappan, 
September 28, 1778. 

2 John Swan, of Mary- 
land, was made Captain of 
the Third Continental 
Dragoons, April 26th, 
1777. He was taken 
prisoner at Tappan, Sep- 
tember 28, 1778. October 21, 1780, he became Major of the 
First Continental Dragoons. November 9, 1782, he was retained 
in Baylor's Regiment of Dragoons, and served to the close of the 
war. — Heitman. 




1778] Sally Wister 167 

walk'd to the parlour door, " God 
Almighty bless you, ladies ; " bow'd, 
went into the road, mounted a very fine 
horse, and rode away ; leaving Watts and 
the troop here, to take care of us, as he 
said. 

" Mr. Watts, Miss Sally, is a very 
worthy man ; but, poor soul, he is so 
captivated with you, — the pain in his 
breast ail owing to you, — he was caught 
by this beauty-spot," tapping my cheek. 
He could not have thought it was meant 
for an addition, as the size of it shew'd 
the contrary. But he is gone ; and I 
think, as I have escap'd thus far safe, I 
am quite a heroine, and need not be fear- 
ful of any of the lords of the creation for 
the future. 

Six o" clocks Even^. 

Watts drank tea with us. A convers- 
able man. Says that the Dandridges are 
one of the genteelest families in Virginia, 
— relations of General Washington's wife. 
He appeared very fond of the Captain, 



1 68 Journal of [Junes 

who has had a liberal education. Very- 
sensible and brave. 

I sat in the entry all last evening, as did 
Betsy. But first, let me say, Fifth-day 
morn we chatted on a variety of subjects ; 
and amongst others, he mentioned the 
cruelty of the Britons, which, I agreed, 
was very great. He said he wou'd 
retaliate whenever he had an opportunity. 

I strenuously oppos'd such a procedure, 
observing that it would be erring in the 
same way, and tho' they might deserve it, 
yet it wou'd be much nobler to treat them 
with lenity. Remember those lines of 
Pope, — 

"That mercy I to others shew. 
That mercy shew to me." 

" I perfectly remember them. Your 
sentiments are noble ; - but we must 
retaliate sometimes." 

A iiorseman delivered this message : 
" Let the troop lie on their arms, and be 
ready to march at a moment's warning." 

He immediately gave those orders to 
the sergeant. Every soldier was in 



1778] Sally Wister 169 

motion. I was a good deal frighten'd, 
and ask'd Watts the reason. He fancy'd 
the British were in motion, tho' he had 
not received such intelHgence. 

" What will thee do if they come 
here ? " 

" Defend the house as long as I can, 
ma'am.'* 

I was shock'd. " Bless my heart ; 
what will become of us ? " 

" You may be very safe. The house is 
an excellent house to defend ; only do 
you be still. If the British vanquish us, 
down on your knees, and cry, ' Bless the 
king.' If we conquer them, why, you 
know you are safe." 

This added to my fright. I called my 
dear mamma, who was much indispos'd. 
Dadda was gone to Lancaster. Mamma 
ask'd him the same questions, and he 
gave her the same answers. I was in a 
fearful taking, and said that if I thought 
such a thing wou'd happen, I wou'd set 
off, tho' nine o'clock, and walk to Uncle 
Foulke's. 



170 Journal of [June 3 

" No, don't go to-night, Miss Sally. 
I Will take you there to-morrow. Don't 
be uneasy. This is nothing. I often go 
to bed with my boots on upon some 
alarms." 

" But will thee take off thy boots 
to-night ? " 

"Yes, I will, indeed." 

" Is thee really in earnest about defend- 
ing the house ? " 

" No, madam ; for believe me, if I hear 
the enemy is in motion, depend upon it, I 
will immediately depart, bag and baggage." 

This dispell'd my fears, and after wishes 
for a good night, he retir'd to his chamber. 
Imagine my consternation when our girl 
came running in, and said the lane was 
filled with light horse. I flew to the side 
door. It was true. 

My joy was great when I heard Major 
Clough ask if this was Capt. Dandridge's 
quarters. I answered in the affirmative. 
He rode round to the other door. Watts, 
tho' gone to bed, was call'd. He chatted 
apart to the Major a while, then went off 



1778] Sally VVister 171 

towards Skippack road, followed by a large 
party of horse and waggons. 

My fears were all renew'd ; and, as if 
we were to be in perpetual alarms, by came 
another party, much larger than the other, 
in dark clothes. These we all thought 
were British. They halted. All as still 
as death. The officer rode up to the 
door. 

" Does Mr. Foulke live here ? " 

" Yes," said somebody. 

" Is there not a family from town here, 
—Mr. Wister's ? " 

I recollected the voice, and said, " Cap- 
tain Stoddard, I presume ? " 

" Yes, madam. Are you Mr. Wister's 
wife ? " 

" No, his daughter." 

" Is your papa at home ? " 

" No," I reply'd, but invited him in to 
see mamma. 

He agreed ; dismounted, as did many 
other officers ; but he alone came into our 
parlour. Watts follow'd, to bid us adieu. 
They sat a few minutes ; told us that two 



172 Journal of [June 3 

of their men had deserted, and when that 
was the case, they generally mov'd their 
quarters. Watts told him how I was 
frightened. He said I paid but a poor 
compliment to their cavalry. I only 
smil'd. The alarm had partly deprived 
me of the power of speech. 

They sat about fifteen minutes, then 
rose, and after the politest adieus, departed. 
All the horse follow'd — about one hundred 
and fifty. I never saw more regularity 
observed, or so undisturb'd a silence kept 
up when so large a number of people 
were together. Not a voice was heard, 
except that of the officer who gave the 
word of command. 

The moon at intervals broke thro' the 
heavy black clouds. No noise was per- 
ceived, save that which the horses made as 
they trotted o'er the wooden bridge across 
the race. Echo a while gave us back the 
sound. At last nothing was left but the 
remembrance of them. The family all 
retir'd to their respective chambers, and 
enjoyed a calm repose. 



1778] Sally Wister 173 

This Captain Stoddard^ is from New 
England, and belongs to Col. Sheldon's 
regiment of dragoons. He made an 
acquaintance with my father at German- 
town, whilst our Army was at that place, 
and had been here once before. He is 
clever and gentlemanly. 



iJosiAH Stoddard was born in Salisbury, Conn., December 2, 
1747; was son of Josiah (died 1764) and Sarah Stoddard. On 
August 22, 1774, he was a member of the Salisbury Town 
Committee of Correspondence. He was one of the party that 
went from Connecticut to effect the capture of Fort Ticonderoga, 
serving from May i to June 8th, 1775, at Ticonderoga and Crown 
Point. This company joined others, and put themselves under the 
command of Col. Ethan Allen, but (as Allen says) the attempt 
was made under the authority of the General Assembly of 
Connecticut, and the plan of the enterprise was due to a party of 
sixteen, of whom Stoddard was one. His conduct on the 
expedition was in some way questioned by another member of the 
party, William Nichols, of Hartford, and the matter caused the 
passing of an act against duelling, in May, 1779. Appointed 
Second-Lieutenant in Captain Josiah Starr's Company in May, 
1776 5 but appears to have served at some time during that year as 
First-Lieute.nant in Captain Simeon Smith's Company, Colonel 
Philip Burr Bradley's regiment of Connecticut State troops. 
Appointed Captain of a company in Colonel Elisha Sheldon's 
regiment of Light Dragoons, December 31st, 1776. \Vas sick 
with fever at Boston in August, 1779. Died August 24th, 1779. 
— Albert C. Bates, Librarian of Connecticut Historical Society, 
Hartford. 



174 Journal of [June 4 

Fifth Day, June 4th, 2 o* clock. 

Oh, gracious ! how warm is this day. 
But, warm as it is, I must make a sUght 
alteration in my dress. 1 do not make an 
elegant figure, tho' I do not expect to see 
the face of a stranger to-day. 

Sixth Day, June ^th. Morn, 11 o* clock. 

Last night we were a little alarm'd. 1 was 
awaken'd about 1 2 o'clock with somebody's 
opening the chamber door. I observ'd 
Cousin Prissa talking to Mamma. I 
asked what was the matter. 

" Only a party of light horse." 

" Are they Americans } " I quickly 
said. 

She answer'd in the affirmative (which 
dispell'd my fears), and told me Major 
Jameson commanded, and that Capts. Call 
and Nixon ^ were with him. With this 



^Andrew j 

Nixon, of Vir- A Q-^/ // * 

ginia, was made ^-f- yi & ^'jL^ Q-^Tl 

Adjutant of ^"''''^ 

Bland's First Regiment of Virginia Light Dragoons, March 31, 

1777. (Bland iVISS., Cong„ Lib.) Later he was raised to the 



1/78] Sally Wister 175 

intelligence she left us, and I revolved in 
my mind whether or not Jameson would 
renew his acquaintance ; but Morpheus 
buried all my ideas, and this morn I rose 
by or near seven, dress'd in my light 
chintz, which is made gown-fashion, kent- 
ing handkerchief, and linen apron. 

" Sufficiently smart for a country girl, 
Sally." 

Don't call me a country girl, Debby 
Norris. Please to observe that I pride 
myself upon being a Philadelphian, and 
that a residence of 20 months has not at all 
diminished the love I have for that dear 
place ; and as soon as one very capital 
alteration takes place (which is very much 
talk'd of at present), I expect to return to 
it with a double pleasure. 

Dress'd as above, down I came, and 
went down to our kitchen, which is a 
small distance from the house. As I 
came back 1 saw Jameson at the window. 
He met me in the entry, bow'd : — " How 

rank of Captain (Journal Va. House of Delegates, Richmond, 
1833, Doc. No. 30). 



176 journal of [June 5 

do you do, Miss Sally ? " After the compli- 
ments usual on such occasions had passed, I 
invited him into our parlour. He follow'd 
me in. We chatted very sociably. 

I inquir'd for Polly Fishbourn. He 
said he had seen her last First-day ; that 
she was well. Her mamma^ had gone to 
Lancaster, to visit her daughter Wharton, 
who, as I suppose you have heard, has 
lost her husband. 

I ask'd him whether Dandridge was on 
this side the Delaware. He said " Yes." 
I wanted sadly to hear his opinion, but he 
said not a word. 

The conversation turned upon the 
British leaving Philad\ He firmly 
believed they were going. I sincerely 
wish'd it might be true, but was afraid to 
flatter myself. I had heard it so often 
that I was quite faithless, and express'd 
my approbation of Pope's 12th beatitude, 
" Blessed are they that expect nothing, for 

^ This was Mary Fishbourne. Her son-in-law, Thomas Whar- 
ton, President of the Supreme Executive Council, died May Z2, 
1778, at Lancaster, which was then the seat of the Pennsylvania 
government. — See footnote, page 140. 



1778] Sally Wister 177 

they shall not be disappointed." He smil'd, 
and assur'd me they were going away. 

He was summon'd to breakfast. I 
ask'd him to stay with us. He declin'd 
the invitation with politeness, adding that 
he was in a hurry, — oblig'd to go to 
Camp as soon as he could. He bow'd, 
"Your servant, ladies," and withdrew 
immediately. After breakfast they set off 
for Valley Forge, where Gen'l Washington's 
army still are. 

I am more pleas'd with Major Jameson 
than I was at first. He is sensible and 
agreeable, — a manly person, and a very 
good countenance. We girls differ about 
him. Prissa and I admire him, whilst 
Liddy and Betsy will not allow him a 
spark of beauty. Aunt's family are 
charmed with his behaviour, — so polite, so 
unassuming. When he disturb'd them 
last night, he made a hundred apologies, 
— was so sorry to call them up, — 'twas 
real necessity oblig'd him. 

I can't help remarking the contrast 
between him and Dandridge. The 



178 Journal of [Junes 

former appears to be rather grave than 
gay, — no vain, assuming airs. The latter 
calls for the genius of a Hogarth to 
characterize him. He is possess'd of a 
good understanding, a very liberal edu- 
cation, gay and volatile to excess. He is 
an Indian, a gentleman, grave and sad 
in the same hour. 

But what signifies ? I can't give thee a 
true idea of him ; but he assumes at 
pleasure a behaviour the most courtly, the 
most elegant of anything I ever saw. 
He is very entertaining company, and 
very vain of his personal beauties ; yet 
nevertheless his character is exceptional. 

Sixth Dajy Noon and Even^. 
Nothing material occurr'd. 

Seventh Day Night. 
A dull morn. In the afternoon, Liddy, 
Betsy, R. H. and self went to one of our 
neighbours to eat strawberries. Got a 
few. Return'd home ; drank tea. No 
beaus. Adieu. 



1778] Sally Wister 179 

First Day, Eveti* g. 

High-ho ! Debby, there's no little 
meaning in that exclamation, ain't there. 
To me it conveys much. I have been 
looking what the dictionary says. It 
denotes uneasiness of mind. I don't 
know that my mind is particularly uneasy 
just now. 

The occurrences of the day come now. 
I left my chamber between eight and nine, 
breakfasted, went up to dress, put on a new 
purple and white striped Persian, white 
petticoat, muslin apron, gauze cap, and 
handkerchief. Thus array'd. Miss Norris, 
I ask your opinion. Thy partiality to 
thy friend will bid thee say I made a 
tolerable appearance. Not so, my dear. 
I was this identical Sally Wister, with all 
her whims and follies ; and they have 
gain'd so great an ascendency over my 
prudence, that I fear it will be a hard 
matter to divest myself of them. But I 
will hope for a reformation. 

Cousin Hannah Miles came about nine, 
and spent the day with us. After we had 



l8o Journal of [June 7 

din'd, two dragoons rode up to the door ; 
one a waiting-man of Dandridge's, the 
faithful Jonathan. They are quarter'd a 
few miles from us. 

The junior sisters (Liddy and Betsy), 
joined by me, ventur'd to send our compli- 
ments to the Captain and Watts. Prissa 
insists that it is vastly indelicate, and that 
she has done with us. Hey day ! What 
prudish notions are those, Priscilla ! I 
banish prudery. Suppose we had sent 
our love to him, where had been the 
impropriety ? for really he had a person 
that was love-inspiring, tho' I escaped, and 
may say, lo triumphe. I answer not for 
the other girls, but am apt to conclude 
that Cupid shot his arrows, and m.ay be 
they had effect. 

A fine evening this. If wishes cou'd 
avail, I wou*d be in your garden with 
S. Jones, P. Fishbourn, and thyself 
Thee has no objection to some of our 
North Wales swains, — not the beaus in- 
habitants of N — W — , but some of the 
transitory ones. But cruel reverse. In- 



,778] Sally Wister i8i 

stead of having my wishes accompUsh'd 
I must confine myself to the narrow hmits 
of this farm. 

Liddy calls : " Sally, will thee walk ? " 
" Yes." Perhaps a walk will give a new 
turn to my ideas, and present something 
new to my vacant imagination. 

Second Day, Third Day, Fourth Day. 
No new occurrences to relate. Almost 
adventureless, except Gen'l Lacy's ^ riding 




iJoHN Lacey, as he states in his autobiography {Pa. Mag., 
XXV., XXVI.), was bom in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Feb- 
ruary 4, 1755, a son of John and Jane (Chapman) Lacey. 

When the Revolu- 
tion opened he re- 
cruited a company, 
and on January 6, 
1776, was made a 
Captain in Anthony 
Wayne's regiment, and served in the expedition against Canada. 
In 1777 he was promoted to be Lieutenant-Colonel of militia, and 
had many skirmishes with the British around Whitemarsh. He 
was made a Brigadier-General of militia on January 9, 1778, and 
continued in active service about the city during the British occupa- 
tion of Philadelphia. In 1778 he was chosen a member of the 
Pennsylvania Assembly, and from 1779 until 1781 he served in 
the Council. In August, 1780, he took the field with a brigade 
of militia, and was active in all the movements and battles of 



l82 Journal of [June i8 

by, and his fierce horse disdaining to go 
without shewing his airs, in expectation of 
drawing the attention of the Mill girls, in 
order to glad his master's eyes. Ha ! ha ! 
ha ! One would have imagined that 
vanity had been buried amidst the shades 
of N. Wales. 

Lacy is tolerable ; but as ill luck wou*d 
order it, I had been busy, and my auburn 
ringlets were much dishevell'd ; therefore 
I did not glad his eyes, and cannot set 
down in the list of honours receiv'd that 
of a bow from Brigadier-Gen'l Lacy. 

Fifth Day Night, June i8th. 

Rose at half-past four this morning. 
Iron'd industriously till one o'clock, din*d, 
went up stairs, threw myself on the bed, 
and fell asleep. About four sister Hannah 
waked me, and said uncle and Foulke 
were down stairs ; so I decorated myself, 

Washington's Army until October, 1781. After the Revolution, 
he settled in New Mills, New Jersey, where he became an iron 
manufacturer. He served on the bench, and in the New Jersey 
Legislature. His death occurred at New Mills, February 17, 1814. 



1778] Sally Wister 183/ 

and went down. Felt quite lackadaisical. 
However, I jump'd about a little, and the 
stupid fit went off. 

We have had strange reports about the 
British being about leaving Philad^ I 
can't believe it. Adieu. 



Sixth Day Mortiy Ju7ie igth. 

We have heard an astonishing piece of 
news ! — that the English have entirely left 
the city ! It is almost impossible ! Stay, 
I shall hear further. 

Sixth Day Eve. 

A light horseman has just confirmed the 
above intelligence ! This is charmante ! 
They decamp'd yesterday. He (the 
horseman) was in Philad^. It is true. 
They have gone. Past a doubt. I can't 
help forbear exclaiming to the girls, — 

" Now are you sure the news is true ? 
Now are you sure they have gone ? " 

" Yes, yes, yes ! " they all cry, " and 
may they never, never return." 



184 Journal of [June 20 

Dr. Gould came here to-night. Our 
army are about six miles off, on their 
march to the Jerseys. 

Seventh Day Morn. 

O. F. ^ arrived just now, and relateth as 
followeth : — The Army began their march 
at six this morn by their house. Our 
worthy Gen'l Smallwood breakfasted at 
Uncle Caleb^s.' He ask'd how Mr. & 
Mrs. Wister and the young ladies were, 
and sent his respects to us. 

Our brave, our heroic General Wash- 
ington was escorted by fifty of the Life 
Guard, with drawn swords. Each day he 
acquires an addition to his goodness. 

We have been very anxious to hear how 
the inhabitants have far'd. 1 understand 
that Gen'l Arnold,^ who bears a good 

^ Owen Foulke, son of Caleb. 

2 The Meredith house, on the Swedes' Ford road. 

^** Since my writing the above, Gen. Arnold has forfeited all 
right to a good character by the shameful desertion of his country's 
cause, joining the British, accepting a commission, and plundering 
and distressing the Americans." — [Footnote by Sally Wister on 
the original manuscript.] 



liU M jULvt^c" ^ 



j^ >f^<M^^j^ ca)^^*. lAtttfli^e^ctt^^ -few w t.li>uwc«(w-fc-ttu|?<U4i^^-?«e^-toP<^ ] 
rW^ tVtX^ |<?4m7l Ej(!ti.(u-«vii*\jj f^iijL. qatti V*«o ft/iJL yo«- ^(t/tt- Y!tiL. -hj^^ <>j1^u<^ • 

tt\^MX!\j»X /tA/ljW^teV iWew mttti^ ('j ji^ rite- (ji^xuA-tt HAj'iM. ^^za^-^v ^^^rz^??. 

The End 

Photographed from the original manuscript 



1778] Sally Wister 185 

character, has the command of the city, 
and the soldiers conducted with great 
decorum. Smallwood says that they had 
the strictest orders to behave well ; and I 
dare say they obey'd the order. I 
now think of nothing but returning to 
Philadelphia. 

So shall now conclude this journal with 
humbly hoping that the Great Disposer of 
events, who has graciously vouchsaf 'd to 
protect us to this day through many dan- 
gers, will still be pleas'd to continue his 
protection. 

Sally Wister. 

North Wales, June 20th, 1778. 



APPENDIX 




LETTERS TO SALLY WISTER 

FROM HER SCHOOL-GIRL FRIENDS 



FROM DEBORAH NORRIS 
I. 

January 27, 1777 

Endorsed : **iFor 

Sally Wister '-^ 

JUN 

North Wales*' 



Here I am, my dear Sally, sitting all alone by a 
sparkling fire in my Chamber, with Pen, Ink, & this 
sheet of paper before me, intending to dedicate an 
hour in writing to thee. S. Jones never shewed me 
our letter till yesterday after our afternoon meeting I 
insisted on her accompanying me home. At first she 
refused But on a little pressing consented. We had a 
good deal of Chat about one thing or other. She says 
she's most dreadful lonesome without thee. I tell her 
she did not value thee enough when she had thy 
Company. But she will not allow of this 



190 Letters to [Jan. 27 

Does thee not, my dear, want to return to the 
City ? I long with impatience to see thee. But alas ! 
our Philadelphia is not as it used to be. You can 
scarce walk a square without seeing the shocking sight 
of a Cart with five or Six Coffins in it. Oh ! it is 
too dreadful a scene to Attempt to describe. The poor 
Creatures die without number. Large pits are dug in 
the negroes burying ground/ — and forty or fifty 
coffins are put in the same hole ^ This is really true 
I do not exaggerate Indeed, under these circum- 
stances, I should think it is sin to do it. The well 
soldiers are Quartered on private families. This is a 
great hardship. We have, as yet, escaped, and I hope 
we shall. ^ But I will drop this mournful subject, 
though my mind is full of it. 

Nancy & Polly Pleasants are gone home ; but 
Molly intends to stay with her sister. Nancy went 
with great reluctance she had made many agreeable 
Acquaintances in town and I do not wonder that she 
was unwilling to leave them. She spent an afternoon 
with me before she left town. J. Mifflin came in 

1 Located in what is now Washington Square. 

2 She evidently refers to the burial of soldiers who died in 
Pennsylvania Hospital and other places in the city from the effects 
of the recent campaign in New Jersey. 

, 3 Elizabeth Drinker, another Quaker journalist of Philadelphia, 
was less fortunate ; she notes in her Journal, page 43, under date 
of January 25, 1777: '* We had 5 American soldiers quartered 
upon us, by order ye Council of Safety." 



1777] Sally Wister 191 

before we drank tea ; he was acquainted with a Cousin 
of hers in Mary Land and I fancy with her, for they 
were very Sociable he asked her when she returned 
home. She sighed, and said, ** very soon," she said 
it was almost like being buried alive. 
He answered in a line of Pope's, 

*' To harmless plain-work, & to croaking rooks." 

He forgot the rest, so I helped him out with — 

** Old-fashioned Hall, dull Aunts, & goodly books." 

She smiled, and something else that I don't 
remember changed the discourse. Sally Burge ^ has 
asked me to come and see her 

I would go if S. J. would go with me. But she has 
refused, she says S B has never returned her visit. 
She was with me one day when S. B. asked me when 
I intended to come, and turning to S. Jones, said verry 
formally, '* Will you come Sally Jones ? " I shall be 
glad to see you. Sail told her she had never tho't it 
worth while to return her visit. ** It was no visit," 
she said. S. J. insisted that it was and so the affair 
stands between them ; 

^ Sarah Coaxes Burge, daughter of Samuel and Beulah 
(Shoemaker) Burge, was born November 13, 1761, and died 
September 14, 1824 She was married November 13, 1783, to 
William Rawle, a distinguished lawyer of Philadelphia, only son 
of Francis Rawle, by his wife Rebecca Warner, and brother of 
Anna and Margaret Rawle. He was born April 28, 1759, and 
died April 12, 1836. — Keith, "Councillors," 255-257. 



192 Letters to [Jan. 27 

They tell me Peggy ^ is vastly improved since she 
wore a roller. I have had but a glance, from which I 
could form no Judgment. But 1 do not think Sally is 
much improved by the Alteration. 

Accept of my Sincere Congratulations on the 
recovery of thy dear Brother & sister. I was very 
uneasy until I heard Johnny was out of danger. I 
hope the dear little fellow will not be marked. They 
have, indeed, been favored, and I hope Divine Provi- 
dence, that nas brougnt them thus far out of a dangerous 
disease, may still continue to protect them, and every 
one of you. I have Scrawl' d thee a long letter my dear 
but I cannot Conclude it without telling the that last 
time we heard from my dear Cousin P Dickinson she 
and her little Sally were well. I hope to see her some- 
time in next month ; she is very dear to me, and what 
lays near our hearts we cannot help communicating to 
those we love. 

The inclosed little excursion I desire thee not to 
show to anybody ; it was the product of a leisure 
moment, and has never been corrected. 




^^.a<H/^ 



^ Peggy or Margaret 
Rawi.e, daughter of Francis 
and Rebecca (Warner) 
Rawle, was born in Phila- 
delphia in 1760, and died there August 25, 1831. She was 
married there November 14, 1786, to Isaac Wharton, of Phila- 
delphia and " Woodford," merchant. He died March 31, 1808. 
— Glenn's " Some Colonial Mansions." 




ATrs. Isaac Wharton 
" Peggy Rawle " 



1777] Sally Wister 193 

Mammy asked me if I was a going to write to thee. 
Upon my answering in the affirmative she desired me 
to give her kind love, in which I heartily Join her, to 
Friend Foulke, thy good Mammy, Priscilla & Liddy, 
Betsy Wister, and to thee my dear Sally I have not 
heard a word from P Fishbourn ; if thee writes give 
my affectionate remembrance to her 

I shall never forget you Remember me, and write 
Soon, my dear girl, if thee is not affraid of receiving 
another long tedious scrawl from thy affectionate and 
faithful ffriend, 

D. NORRIS. 



Began to write at 1 1 finished by twelve, on 
Second-day morning 27th of January, 1777. 



194 Letters to [June? 



FROM DEBORAH NORRIS 
II. 

[No date, but evidently written in 1778 shortly before the 
Wisters returned to Philadelphia.] 



How pleasing was my dear Sally's letter to me. 
Believe me, if I was to forfeit the least grain of thy 
friendship 1 should be most unhappy — Continue, my 
dear Girl, to love one who's greatest Felicity it is to be 
beloved, for what balm has this life to give us, but the 
Sweet cement of Souls ? May this Strengthen and 
increase amongst us, for it breathes and tastes of 
heaven. I shall write with freedom. The Event 
that has lately taken place astonishes me the more, as I 
reflect the more on it. I had heard of it some weeks 
before it happened, but I was incredulous untill I was 
told by the Captain who livd with us that it was 
actually to be ; I could no longer doubt, but. Oh 
Sally, all that has occurred Since, thee shall not be 
unacquainted with. 

I intreat thee, by our friendship, not to enter on 
any Pohtical disquisitions with us ; it is not our prov- 
ince, and will only serve to create disagreeable 
sensations. 

I long to see thee, to embrace thee, and to assure 
thee of my love. Tell me in answer to this, that it 



1778] Sally Wister 195 

will be but a short space of time before I shall enjoy 
this pleasure. 

I am going to prepare thee for a sight of me, by- 
telling thee that I am a tall, brown Girl. Two 
months ago, thee w"^ have seen me in the best height 
of my plumpness. Now I am rather thinner, though 
not more delicate. 

Thy comparing our friend Sally to a garden, is 
inimitable. She is really what thee describes her to be 
— naturally amiable, and possesed of much goodness 
of heart Comparing her foibles to a few delicate 
weeds, is what I cannot sufficiently admire, because it 
is my own Idea, that I knew not how to clothe, 
dressed by thee in the most refined expressions. And 
then, my dear Girl, I have seen weeds so delicate that 
they might be taken for more valuable plants by 
unskillful people. I believe the Gardner upon proper 
application, w*^ either remove them, or so cultivate 
them that they sh** become flowers. It is very true, 
we are none without our faults. Indeed merely to 
own this is nothing, but to endeavour to amend them in 
ourselves and others is truly noble. 

She, Sally, I mean, has not seen thy letter to me 
yet. So I dont know what she will say though I must 
do her the justice to acknowledge that she had heard 
previous to what she said to O F^ and Prissa^ that thee 

^ Owen Foulke. 
' Priscilla Foulke. 



196 Letters to [June? 

h'^ said, *'lf it had happened that thee had come to 
town whilst the British Army were here, thee would 
have taken no notice of any of them ; even had they 
been of her Acquaintance." Now had thee have 
come, and behaved thyself in this manner, thee would 
not have answered the amiable character I had given 
thee, but I am sure thee could not have said this or 
thee would Err, as thee says, in the same way as thee 
blamed others for. 

There is a Certain person talks a great deal about 
thee, merely because he hears us talk, for he has never 
seen thee. He told me the other day he hoped I 
would soon have the pleasure of seeing my friend 
Sally Wister ; I told him I expected I soon sh** have 
that happiness. Now does thee not want to know 

who it is ? Why, it is C. L does thee not 

remember what thee wrote to me last winter ; thee 
could not I am sure have believed such a tale 

We have an anecdote to tell thee when we meet, 
indeed we have a thousand. Our tete-a-tete, I fancy, 
will be very interesting. I have no idea but that thee 
wishes to see us as ardently as we do to see thee. 
Do contrive to shorten the 10 days 

We have been much engaged in cleaning the house 
for we expect Cousin P. Dickinson^ up every day — 

^ Polly or Mary Dickinson, wife of the celebrated John 
Dickinson of the Revolution. She was born July 17, 1740, a 
daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Logan) Norris, and a granddaughter 
of James Logan. — Keith, " Councrllors." 



1778] Sally Wister 197 

tis a work I like when it is over. Polly Fishburn 
called here 2 days since. She looked well and 

hearty. 

I think thy sister is much improved. She is a fine, 
genteel Girl ; not quite so tall as my Ladyship. We 
make Sally Jones appear diminutive ; not in her own 
eyes, however. I have a very bad cold thee will not 
think I am in very bad spirits by the writing or rather 
Style of this letter but they have been depressed, and 
very low ; the thought of seeing thee soon has been 
delicious to me. 

I have this instant heard that there is an Engagement 
in the Jerseys. When this is the case, we think of all 
whom we know. 

My Mammy presents her affectionate love to 
you, as does her good-for-nothing daughter. 

Adieu, my dear, till we meet, which I earnestly 
wish may be shortly ; until then a tender adieu thy 
Ardelia or 

D. NORRIS 



Sixth Day Noon. 

I shall give thy love to Molly Pleasants, who is a 
dear Girl, and I return thee hers for I know she loves 
thee. Adieu, my dear Creature, Ease us of our anxiety 
and come soon, next week, we shall positively expect 
thee. 



198 Letters to [Feb. 27 



FROM DEBORAH NORRIS 
III. 

February 27, 1779. 

Endorsed : ** Sally Wister.'* 

I wish I could send my amiable friend as delightful 
a letter as she has favored me with ; it was just such as 
I love, and made me exclaim as thee once did, ** Sure 
our Souls are congenial " The long acquaintance that 
I have had with you, makes you inexpressibly dear to 
me. I shall never cultivate any new friendship com- 
parable with that heartfelt one I entertain for you — it 
is no common attachment, but a harmony, a cement 
of soul that binds our union. We were early 
acquainted. 

I sometimes take a retrospective view of the 
happy days of our childhood, ^ our school-day friend- 
ship, and always recall the idea with pleasure. The 
visionary Swains, my dear, are just such as my 
romantic fancy has often painted. But when will diey 
make their appearance ? and what are their names ? are 
questions nobody can answer I desire my dear that I 

' The writer v/as now in her eighteenth year. 



1779] Sally Wister 199 

may be very early consulted, and be assured that thee 
shall, you shall have no cause to blame me for reserve, 
it is no part of my character with you I hope. 

Our fair Virginian has not paid her female friends a 
compliment, I think — but the Doctor, The gay, the 
alert Doctor What a pity he does not try to get 
admitted into the Social circle. He would be an 
agreeable member, I think. We would undertake to 
cure him of his Superfluous exclamations. 

Thy mischievous sister has set me all agig to know 
what he said about you. I declare, I would give a 
Continental dollar to know what it was ! and shall be 
uneasy whenever I think of it until my curiosity is 
gratified. 

John Mifflin ' has wrote me a letter just in the Same 
style as his conversation. He says that thee is a good 
Soul and he wishes all the ladies of his acquaintance 
were as good humored as thee and not misinterpret his 
rattling expression as to his sayings about me I can let 
them pass you need not have a better hand to spirit 
you up a little to mischief than himself. But he 
possesses good-nature with all his useful talent for 
raillery. 

Mohn Fishbourne Mifflin, son of John and Sarah (Fishbourne) 
Mifflin, was born April 21, 1759, was graduated from College of 
Philadelphia, in 1775, and practiced law in Philadelphia. He 
was married, June 18, 1788, to Clementina, daughter of John 
Ross, of Philadelphia. His death occurred May 13, 1818. — 
Keith, " Provincial Councillors," 363. 



200 



Letters to [Feb. 27 



Peter Lloyd's^ promotion has disappointed us of 
a visit this winter. 

** 'Tis an ill- wind that blows nobody no good." 
The fracas between Deane/ Common sense, ^ and 
the committee, has let an office fall, but I am vexd 
that Peter and Joesy did not visit S Jones's first. 

I am amazed that Miss Stocker is called a Beauty 
We have a chance for it now, I think 

I am very glad to hear of Alexis' recovery. If I 
should be a Bridesmaid (which I much question) and 
he a Bridesman, we shall be very well acquainted, I 
suppose — but Y^ wedding will be insipid if you are not 
of the number of the guests. 

If thee thinks of taking a trip to N Wales do defer 
it until my return, and we will try to have a Party. 
I am extremely obliged to Lavinia for her letters the 
prospect of her return to y" circle, is very agreeable to 
me — I will write to her. 



1 Peter Zachary Lloyd, son of Peter and Mercy (Masters) 
Lloyd, born August 23, 1750, became a Captain in Colonel Atlee's 
Pennsylvania Musket Battalion, March 15, 1776, and Brigade 
Major to General Ewing, August 11, 1776. For several years he 
viras Clerk to the Pennsylvania Assembly. — Keith, '* Coun- 
cillors," 22 ; " Pa. in Revolution," L 250 ; Heitman. 

- Silas Deane. 

^Thomas Paine, w^ho wrote under the nom-de-plume of "Com- 
mon Sense." This refers to his attack upon Silas Deane in the 
Philadelphia newspapers in 1778- 1779. See Moncure D. 
Conway's " Writings of Thomas Paine," Vol. L 



1779] Sally Wister 201 

I blush to send thee such a poor return for thy 
delightful favors. Do let the number of my corres- 
pondents plead some excuse for 
Thme, 

D. NORRIS. 

27th feb^ 1779. 



202 Letters to [juiy 28 



FROM PEGGY RAWLE 

I. 

July 28, [1776] 

Endorsed : 

Sally Wister 

in 
Germantown * * 

July 28 

I Receiv'd your letter, my dear, by Sally Jones last 
evening and I hope you will acknowledge I have begun 
early to return it. Reading thy Description of your 
walk I almost fancied myself with you. The grove is 
a sweet Place ; I earnestly long for the Pleasure of 
walking to it with thee and oar Amiable friend. I 
flatter myself it wont be long before I Partake that 
Pleasure with you. how agreeable is your Situation, 
and how much the reverse is mine. You out of the 
noise of the town in the coole, the silent shades, — 
an agreeable company very near. Sweet walks ; you 
enjoy these Charming Moonlight evenings. For my 
part I never was so lonesome in my life as I am now. 
I set at the door by myself, not a Creature to speak to. 
I know I shall have your Pity, which is one Comfort. 



1776] Sally Wister 203 

I have been looking over your letter and am really 
ashamed of this — Such a collection of Pens nobody 
ever w^as Pleged with ! but I ought not to blame the 
Pens, for the Spelling and w^ording, but my ow^n stupid 
head that can Produce nothing Better. I am very 
warm, which is another excuse, stoved up in our little 
libary with the door locked to keep my Troublesom 
Httle Brother out, but perhaps you think I deserve it 
for not being at meeting this afternoon. I was there 
in the morning and had not the least inclination to go 
again. 

As to Polly Fishbourn and her letter, I give them 
up. She has not Proved herself a girl of her word ; 
how'er Give my love to her in your next and tell her 
I shall Remember her, tho she has forgot me. Do let 
me have another letter very soon 

Adieu, my dear Sally, 

Peggy Rawle 

I forgot to tell you my Surprise at seeing you Cross 
Arch Street and never think it worth your wile to 
come so little away to see me. I thought it could not 
be you ; its very well, I should not have served you 
so. I should look on it as a very great favour if you 
would not show this to any Creature unless it was 
P F ^ not D N ^ for the world Once more I bid you 
Adieu 

Peggy Rawle 

^ Polly Fishbourne. - Deborah Norris. 



204 Letters to [Sept. 7 



FROM PEGGY RAWLE 
II. 

September 7, 1776. 

Endorsed : ** To 

Sally Wister 

in 
Germantown ' ' 



September 7, 1776. 

May the Pleasures of the town be equal to those of 
the Country, is the kind wish you close your letter with; 
but that cannot be to one who Prefers the Country so 
much to the town as I do. I almost envy every 
boddy that is agreeably situated in the Country, nor is 
it to be wondered at since I Past some of the most 
agreeable Parts of my Life at Laurel Hill. Nine or 
Ten Summers I Past there, the Remembrance of 
which is still dear to me, and makes me regret Passing 
them any were el's. You ask me in your Letter why 
I am so averse to your shewing my Letters to Debby 
Norris. You say she is not one of those girls who 
make illnatured Remarks. No, my dear, I have not 
the least Reason to imagine she is, but I had rather 



1776] Sally Wister 205 

nobody should see them but yourself, but to D N, 
who writes so well herself, mine must appear silly. 

S B ^ tells me you have at last heard from your 
friend. I am much Pleas' d to hear she intends for 
Town. I think it is a most time she has made a long 
visit. I want much to see her. I shall be Glad when 
we get together again, us Girls, 1 mean, for as to the 
boys I fancy we must Give them up wilhngly. I 
shall nor have I the most distant desire of being with 
them again. I think we Pass our time more agreeably 
without than with them. 

I was at the door tother evening with Anny ^ when 
J P came up. I was amaz'd to see him, you may 
suppose. It was very dark. I should not have known 
him, but for the Peculiar cock of his hat, but you 
know my dear his whole appearance is very Singular. 
My Brother was out, so he did not stay many 
Minutes. 

I wish you were coming to town. How much 
longer are you going to stay ? SB tells me they are 
not coming this Month. Great disappointment to me 

^ Sally Burge. 

2 Anna Ravvle, daughter of Francis and Rebecca (Warner) 
Rawle, was born in Philadelphia, October 30, 1757, and was 
married September 16, 1783, to John Clifford, of Philadelphia 
and " Clifford Farm," merchant. Ke died in October, 1821, 
and she died in July, 1828. Interesting diaries and letters that 
she and her sister Margaret wrote during the Revolution are still 
preserved. — Glenn's " Some Colonial Mansions." 



2o6 Letters to [Sept. 7 

as I expected them much sooner. Selfish Girl you 
say. So fond of the Country yourself yet so unwilling 
your friends should enjoy it. Cant be help'd, my 
dear, tis the too much the way of the world to prefer 
your own Pleasure to that of other People. 

It is much the Practice to make excuses for Letters 
wether Necessary or not, that I will let it alone. 
Let this speak for itself tho there never was one 
required it more. 

I thought when I sat down to write it I would try 
to do it well but am allways in a hurry to be done — 
no Patience — dont you see how strait its wrote. Do 
write very soon to your 

AiFectionate 

Peggy Rawle. 



1776?] Sally Wister 207 



FROM POLLY FISHBOURNE 

[Latter part of 1776 ?] 

Endorsed : 

** Sally Wister 

Philadelphia." 

On fourth day evening I received a large Packet of 
letters from my Friends in Phila**, but was much sur- 
pris'd at seeing none from my dear Sally and not even 
so much as send her love in Eliza's letter. I Could 
not account for it, but I judge kindly of thee for all 
thy seeming neglect. But on fifthday morn John 
Rutter waited on us and delivered thy kind letter. 
Thy spirits, my dear friend, appear to be very low. 
1 think if thee Could put thy jaunt in execution to 
Northwales it would be of great service to thee, tho 
at this time it would not be proper. 

Yes, my dear lovely friend, thy joys are mine and I 
do most sensibly participate, but the cheifest of thy 
joys, and the greatest source from which they spring, I 
am deprived of But I must submit and not repine ; 
I find I have yet many ties to this world, — three of 
the best sisters and lov'd mother and many other kind 
and dear relatives and friends, that I find have a great 
hold on my affections. But some time ago, I thought 



2o8 Letters to 

I Could willingly have resigned them all, but with my 
returning health and Ease of mind, I feel myself more 
attached to this world. 

I often think, my dear Sally, of our Conversation 
the evening before I left town, in which thee told me, 
thee hoped I should return as much of a friend as I 
left thee. I assure thee I shall, my Sentiments is by 
no means altered, tho all my Companions are of a 
different Society ; there are but very few friends here, 
but I attend meetings on first days, and make use of 
the plain language ; and indeed some of my friends 
Calls me a preacher, but that I do not mind, fblly 
satisfied I am in my duty. 

Poor T. H— p— h— 11 ! I sincerely feel for him ; yes, 
my dear, as a fellow Creature he Claims our sympathy. 
I think it a most Cruel part they act by not telling him 
his danger. They do not act, as friends that keep it 
from him. I wish he may, poor fellow, be favoured 
to see his danger, and be enabled to make his peace 
before hes Called hence, for I believe it to be an awful 
solemn change and how must they feel who are sliding 
insensibly into the grave without one thought of an 
hereafter. 

We are this day invited to dine with Polly Rutter, 
but I Could not go without having a Httle chat with 
my dear Sally, adieu for the present. 

Six dav morn — I informed my dear SaUy I was 
going to dine out, which accordingly did and spent a 
very agreeable day. The next day dind at sammy 



1776?] Sally Wister 209 

pots where I made an acquaintance with one of the 
most agreeable and sensible young fellows, so poHte 

and attentive his name must be the (?) which 

Nat**. He is engaged to be married to one of the 
hubberts, and I have no hopes of Conquering his heart ; 
and you are all out in your presentiments Concerning 
my geting an admirer. 

How often do I wish for my dear Sally, to be with 
me. I feel so perfectly restored to my health that I 
shall soon want to come home. Present my best love 
to thy dear mother, friend Wister, and all the family. 

Believe me thine with true affection 

Polly Fishbourne 
Potsgrove ^ second day morning 



1 Now Pottstown. 



2IO Inventory [Oct. 9 

A JUST AND TRUE 

INVENTORY 

of all and Singular the goods and Chatties 
Rights and Credits of the Personal Estate 
of William Foulke late of Gwynedd Town- 
ship in the County of Philadelphia^ Deceased. 
Appraised the ninth day of the tenth 
month in the year of our Lord One 
Thousand Seven Hundred & Seventy 
five, by us whose names are Hereunto 
Subscribed 

Cash and wearing aparrell 55^1 3 

I Feather Bed, Furniture & Window 

Curtains i8 o 

I pair of Drawers & Dressing Table . . 410 

6 Rush Bottom Chairs i 4 

I Looking Glass o "t 5 

I Warming Pan 010 

1 2 Napkins o ^ 5 

3 Table Cloths i 10 

I Table Cloth & Six Napkins (tow) . . 010 
I Feather Bed Furniture & Window 

Curtains 16 o 



1775] William Foulke 211 

I Looking Glass 3 5 

I Oval Table i 5 

I Tea Table 015 

I Couch and Bed i 10 

3 Arm, & Six Rush Bottom Chears . . 119 

Sundry Pewter 217 

I Tea Kettle & Chafing Dish .... 15 

Sundry Flatt Irons o 4 

I pair Candlesticks o 5 

Sundry knives & forks 076 

Tea Spoons & Tongs i 10 

China & Delf v^ares i H 

Glass wares o 9 

I pair And Irons 0^5 

1 Riding Chaise Harness &« 10 o 

I Spoted Cow 4 10 

I Black Mare 60 

I Family Bible & Sundry small Books . 3 4 ( 

I Feather Bed & Bed Cloaths .... 90 

I Small . . . ditto 3 ^o 

I Walnut Desk 4 o 

4 Rush Bottom Chears 012 

I Small Looking Glass o 2 < 

4 Table Cloths & 6 Napkins 117 

1 Pair Flaxen Sheets 0^5 

2 Pair Tow . . . ditto o 16 

I pair Tow Sheets o 4 

3 pair Pillow Cases & i Bolster Case . . 07 
3 Pillow Cases & i Bolster Case ... 05 



212 



Inventory [Oct. 9 



o 



3 Tow Sheets i 

2 Old Coverlids 015 

I Red & White d° 076 

I Black and White d«* 076 

I Feather Bed, Bed Stead & Cloths . . 60 

1 Cart 60 

I Old Timber Wagon 4 10 

1 Waggon 90 

2 Plows & Swingle Trees 118 

I Harrow i o 

I Sleigh I 5 

Plank for Fellies o 

I Winnowing Mill 2 

I Cuting Box o 

Wheat on the Straw 50 

Rye on the Straw 4 

Oats on the Straw , 3^5 

Indian Corn on the ground 14 o 

All the Hay in the Barn 40 o 

I 2 Cow Chains 018 

Flax unbroke i o 

Indian Corn in the Mill 010 

I Small writing Disk in d" o 3 9 

Oak Plank 076 

Oak Boards i 2 6 

Gum Boards 09 

Flour Casks i o 

3 Hogsheads , . . i 2 

Cyder Vessells i 10 



10 
o 

12 
o 
o 



1775] William Foulke 213 

Oak Boards 012 

I Weavers Loom & Gears 3 o 

I Six Plate Stove with Pipes 310 

20 sheep 8 o 

I Black Horse 80 

I Black Mare 10 o 

I Spring Colt 60 

I Sorrell Mare 14 o 

I Small brown Mare & Colt 10 o 

I Stone Colt 20 o 

8 Swine 13 o 

7 Milch Cows 28 o 

1 Beef . . . ditto 315 

1 pair Working Oxen 15 o 

2 Steers 7 o 

1 Bullock 7 10 

Horse Gears 3 5 

Hough's, Shovells, Spade & Forks ... 14 

2 Weeding Houghs & Spade o 3 

I Mans Saddle & Bridle i i o 

I . . . old . . . ditto o 12 

I Bed & Bed Cloths 410 

I Trunk 05 

I Bed & Beding 60 

9 Yards Tow Linen 016 6 

41^ Yards Hugabag 09 

A Remnant of Tow Linen 06 

5 Yards Shalloon o 1 5 

I pair Low Drawers i o 



^H Inventory [Oct. 9 

I Chest o 10 

5 Chairs 0126 

I Spinning wheel 012 

I Long wheel 010 

I Reel 04 

3 pair old Cards 03 

I Hatchell 076 

Glass Bottles 06 

3 Old Chairs 06 

I Clock & Case 40 

I Walnut Oval Table o i 8 

I Small . . . ditto 026 

6 Rush Bottom Chairs 14 

I Corner Cubbard 010 

I Chaf Bed & Beding i 10 

I ditto • • I 10 

I Old Chest 026 

Pewter in the Kitchen i i i 

I Brass Kettle 015 

I Large Iron Pott 015 

I Old Pott, Kettle & Sauspan .... 076 

1 Iron Tea Kettle 076 

2 Old Frying pans 04 

Cedar Vessells ,, 01^6 

Dough Trough & Flour Cask 036 

Old Suttle & Table 076 

Knives & Forks 05 

I Old Tea Kettle, Lanthern & 3 Candlestick 076 

3 Flatt Irons 05 



1775] William Foulke 215 

I pair Saddle Bags 05 

I Iron Coffee Mill 04 

I Desk & Oval Table 40 

Dog Irons Shovl Tongs &c i 2 

I Small Iron Kettle & Hooks 03 

Table Cloths & 2 Wallets 010 

8 Bags 015 

Maul Wedges & Old Axes o 14 

Old Bridles 05 

I pair Steel yards 039 

7 Kitchen Chairs 07 

Earthen Ware 05 

I Sett of Thillers Gears 076 

Wool & Worsted 35 

Sundry Books 3 5 6 

I Silver Watch 610 

I Cross Cut Saw 010 

Sundry Scythes & Sickles 010 

1 Large Cedar Tub 07 

141^ Bushells seed wheat . . 4/6 , , 4 5 

2 pair Gold Scales & weights 05 

Sundry Pieces of Antient Coin .... 019 6 

3 Open end Casks 5/ Maple Boards 10/ o 15 

Malt 7/6 Flaxceed 20/ 176 

Sundry Book debts Outstanding . . . . 120 17 2 
Balance of the Legacy due from the Estate 

of John Jones 146 6 4 

A Bond 100 o 

Interest due thereon ^ 4 



2i6 Inventory [Oct. 9 

A Bond 100 o 

Interest due thereon 24 

A Bond 34 o 

Interest due thereon o 14 11 

A Bond 50 o 

Interest due thereon i 5 

;^iio8 16 5 
John Roberts 
John Evans 



John Roberts and John Evans the above appraisers 
were affirmed to the foregoing Inventory & Valuation 
by them made Benj. A. Chew Reg^ Gen^ 



INDEX 

Aiman, Charles T., 75n 

Arnold, General Benedict, 184 

Benezet, Anthony, 13, 1 15n 

Bingham, Nancy Willing, 39 

Bingham, -, 39 

Bland, Colonel, 164 

Bland's regiment 71 

Bleddyn, Owen, Prince of^ 13 

Bond,* Nancy, 26 ; sketch of, 90 

Bowie, Elizabeth (Stoddert) , 43, 89n 

Bowie, Robert, 89n 

Brandywine, battle of, 5, 66n 

British (army), 5, 65, 67, 74, 108, 109, 118 

Broadaxe, 119n 

Brodhead, Colonel Daniel, 148 

Brown, Gustavus Tniman, 43, 87n 

Burge, Beulah Shoemaker, 19 In 

Burge, Samuel, 191n 

Burge, Sarah Coates, 15, 191, 205 

CalC Captain, 174 

Camp Hill Station, 75n 

" Caroline Melmoth," 141 

Cheseldine, Kenelm, 85n 

Cheseldine, Mary (Gerard) , . 85n 

Clagett, Captain Horatio, sketch of, 80 

Clifford, Anna (Rawle), llOn, 205n 

Clifford, John, 205n 

Clough, Major Alexander, 164; sketch of, ..166, 170 

Collins, Emerson, 43 

Continental Army, 66, 119, 120, 138 

Cornwallis, General, 120n 

Correa, Abbe, 118n 

Crawford, Colonel, 99 

Dandridge, Adam Stephen 158n 

Dandridge, Anne (Stephen) , 15Sn 

Dandridge, Captain Alexander Spotswood, 

14, 16, 33, 34, 36, 153, 154, 155; sketch of, 

156, 157-170, 180 

Dandridge, Captain Nathaniel, 156n 

Dandridge, Dorothea (Spotswood) , 157n 

Dates, discrepancies in, 67n, 102n, 139n 



^i8 Journal of [index 

Deane, Silas, 200 

Dickinson, John, 117n, 19(>n 

Dickinson, Mary, 192n; sketch of, ) 196 

Diggs, Cole, sketch of, 2G, 93 

Diggs, William, 93 

Dillwyn, Susanna 106n, 117n 

Dillwyn, William, lOOn, 117n 

Edge' Hill, skirmish at, llln 

Edward 1., of England, 12 

Edwards, Dr. Enoch, sketch of, 68, 89, 96 

Edwards, Major Evan, 68 

Emerson, Captain Amos, sketch of, 152 

Emerson, Susanna (Morse), 152n 

Emlen, Ann (Reckless) , 75n 

Emlen, George, Jr., sketch of, 75, 141 

Emlen, George, Sr., 75n 

Emlen Mansion at Whitemarsh, 74n, 105, 139 

Emlen, Sarah (Fishbourne), 32, 140n, 141, 142 

Evan, Evan ap, 12 

Evans, Ann, 12 

Evans, Hugh, 12 

Evans, Lowry Williams, 12 

Evans, Thomas, 12 

Finley, Captain Ebenezer, sketch of, 80. 86 

Fishbourne, Benjamin, 140n 

Fishbourne, Elizabeth, 140n 

Fishbourne, Hannah, 140n 

Fishbourne, Hannah (Carpenter) , 140n 

Fishbourne, Mary (Talman), 75n, 105n; sketch 

of, 140, 141, 142, 176 

Fishbourne, Marv, or PoUv, 15, 32; sketch of, 

105, 113, 139, 140n, 1*43, 176, 180, 193, 197, 203 

Fishbourne, Sarah, 140n 

Fishbourne, Thomas, 140n 

Fishbourne, William, 75n, lOon, 140n 

Fishbourne, William, Sr 140n 

Fishbourne, William, 3d, 140n 

Flaidd, Rhirid, 12. 19n 

Foulke. Amos, 21 

Foulke, Caleb, 68n. 184 

Foulke, Edward 19 

Foulke, Hannah, 5, 19, 20, 110, 193 

Foulke, Jane (Jones) , 68n 



Index] Sally Wister 219 

Foulke, Jesse, sketch of, 20, 69, 104, 110, 153 

Foulke, Lydia, 20, 22; sketch of, 68, 74, 

91, 92. 95, 90, 97, 98, 99, 112, 113, 123, 128, 

151, 158, 177, 178, 180, 181, 193, 195 

Foulke, Owen, sketch of, 68, 184, 195 

Foulke, Priscilla, 20, 70n; sketch of 76, 112, 

155, 156, 174, 177, 193 

Foulke, William, 19 . 

Fox, Martha, 72n 

Franklin, Benjamin, 118n 

Furnival, Captain Alexander, 25, 36, 79 ; sketch 

of, 84, 88, 95 

Genet, 118n 

Gerard, Thomas, 85n 

Germantown, battle of, 73n, 109 

Germantow n, British entry into, 5 

Germantown, evacuation of, 74 

Gist, Captain Thomas 92n 

Gist, Colonel Mordecai, sketch of,. 36, 92, 95, 99, lOG 

Gist, Susan Cockey , 92n 

Gould, Dr. David,"^ sketch of, 38, 77. 78, 86, 184 

Green, F. Potts, Esq 44, 105n 

Greenfield, Martha (Truman) Son 

Greenfield, Susanna (Cheseldine), 85n 

Greenfield, Thomas, 85n 

Greenfield, Thomas Truman, 85n 

Griffitts, Abigail (Powell) , 106n 

Griffitts, Dr. Samuel Powell, lOOn, 140n 

Griflfitts, Marv (Fishbourne), 140n 

Griffitts, William, 106n 

Gwynedd, 5 

Gv.ynedd, Owen, Prince of, 13 

Heitman, Francis B., 44 

Henrv, Patrick, 157n 

Hessians, 67, 68 

Hill, Milcah Martha, 147 

Howard. Captain, 143, 144 

Howe, General, army of, 66n, 69, 108, 109 

Jameson. Major John, sketch of,... 143, 144, 174-178 

Jefferson. Thomas. . 118n 

Jenkins, Howard M., 44 

Jones, Captain Cadwallader, sketch of, 150 

Jones. Dr. Edward, 11 



220 Journal of [index 

Jones, Gainor (Owen), 12 

Jones, Hannah, 21 

Jones, Hobson, 67 

Jones, Jonathan, 11 

Jones, Mary ( Wynn) , 11 

Jones, Owen, . . 11 

Jones, Sally, 15, 65, 180, 189, 197, 200, 202 

Jones, Snsanna (Evans), 12 

" Joseph Andrews," 141 

" Juliet Grenville," 141 

Kosciusko, 118n 

Lacey, Jane (Chapman) , 181n, 182 

Laeey, General John, 'sketch of, 181 

Lacey, John 181n 

Lady's Magazine, 141 

Lee, Lieutenant, 107, 108 

Lee's troops, 71 

Leiper, Elizabeth (Smallwood) , 86n 

Letherberry, Major, 92, 99, 100, 106 

Lindsay, Lieutenant William, sketch of 71 

Lipscomb, Captain Reuben, 29, 36. 121, 

123, 124, 129, 134, 137, 138, 139 

Llovd, Mercy (Masters) , 200n 

Lloyd, Peter, 200n 

Lloyd, Peter Zachary, sketch of, 200 

Lloyd, Thomas, 114n 

Logan, Dr. George, 116n 

Logan, Hannah (Emlen), 116n 

Logan, James, 116n, 196n 

Logan, William, 116n 

Lyne, Colonel George, 36, 80; sketch of, 

83, 86, 89, 91, 99, 106, 107 

McDougle, General, ^>8 

McKean, Hannah (Miles) , 134n 

McKean, Joseph B., 134n 

McKean, Thomas, 134n 

Massey. Rev. Lee, 87n 

Matson's Ford (Conshohocken) , 119n 

Maxwell, Anne, 147 

Maxwell, General William, sketch of, 147 

MaxM-ell, John • • 147 

Meredith. Evan 105 

Mifflin, Clementina Ross, 199n 



Index] Sally Wister 221 

Mifflin, John, 199n 

Mifflin, John Fishbourne, 190; sketch of, 11)9 

Mifflin, Sarah ( Fishbourne), 199n 

Miles, Catharine (Wister), 104n 

Miles, Colonel Samuel, sketch of, 104, 106 

Miles, Hannah, sketch of, 134, 179 

Miles, Susan, 44 

Mill, the, 20, 69 

Moore, Dr. Charles, sketch of, 146 

Moore, Margaret Preston, 146 

Moore, Mileah Martha (Hill), 147 

Moore, Mr., 166 

]\[oore, Richard, 146 

Morris, James^ Washington's headquarters at 

house of, 74n 

Morse, Captain Abel, 152n 

Morse, Susanna, 152n 

Moss, Lieutenant Henry, sketch of, 139 

Neal, " Caty," 39 

Nixon, Captain Andrew, sketch of, 174 

Norris, Charles, 114n 

Norris, Deborah, sketch of, 6, 7, 14, 15, 18, 

65, 114, 203, 204, 205 

Norris, Isaac, .114n, 196n 

Norris, Mary (Parker), 114n, 193, 197 

Norris, Sarah (Logan) , 196n 

North Wales, 5 

Ogden, Major Aaron, 9 : sketch of, 149 

Owen, Prince of Gwynedd and of Bleddyn, .... 13 

Owen, Rebecca (Humphrey), 12 

Owen, Robert, 12 

Paine, Thomas, 200 

Paoli, massacre at, 66n 

Penllyn, Rhirid Flaidd, Lord of, 11, 12, 19n 

Penn and Logan Correspondence, 118n 

Penn, William, 12 

Pickering, Timothv, 117n 

Pleasants, Molly, " 190, 197 

Pleasants, Nancy, 190 

Pleasants, Polly, 190 

Potts, Samuel, ^ 209 

Pottsgrove, QQ 

Price Cap Rhys). Richard ap Griffith, 12 



222 Journal of [index 

Prig, Mr., f^^. . . 80 

Randolph, John, of Eoanoke, 117n 

Rawle, Anna, 15, 38, 39, 116n, 191, 205 

Rawle, Francis, 19 In, 192n, 205n 

Rawle, Margaret, 15, 18n, 191n, 192n 

Rawle, Rebecca (Warner), 191n, 192n, 205n 

Rawle, Sarah (Burge), 191n 

Rawle, William, 191n 

Rhys, Richard ap Griffith a]), 12 

Roberts, Jenny, 151 

Rorebach, M., 160n 

Ross, Clementina, 199n 

Ross, John, 199n 

Rubenkam, Anna Catharine, 11 

Rubenkam, John Philip, 11 

Rush, Dr. Benjamin, 41 

Rutter, John, " 207 

Rutter, Pollv 208 

Seaton, Alexander, sketch of, 112, 116, 118, 

123, 124, 128, 134, 138 

Shellenberg, Henry, 159n 

Shoemaker, Benjamin, 40 

Shoemaker, D. J., 144 

Shocmakertown, skirmish near, llln 

Skippack road, 67, 74n, 119n, 171 

Smallwood, Bayne, 78n, 86n, 135n 

Smallwood, Captain Heabard, I'll 135, 137 

Smallwood, Eleanor, 86n 

Smallwood, General William 9, 23-25, 27, 28, 

36, 37, 38; sketch of, 78, 79, 80, 81, 89, 91, 

95, 99, 101, 102, 103, 105, 137n, 184, 185 

Smallwood, Lucy Heabard, 85n 

Smallwood, Priscilla, 86n 

Smallwood, Priscilla (Heabard), 78n, 86n 

Smith, Taey (Vanderen), 159n, IGOn 

Smith, Thomas, 159n 

Spencer, Hannah, 68n 

Spencer, eTacob, 68n 

Spencer, John, 68n 

Spotswood, Alexander, 157n 

Spotswood, Dorothea, 157n 

Stenton, 116n 

Stephen, General Adam, 157n 



